Finding easy, healthy meals for picky toddlers can seem impossible.
Life with young children can be wonderfully rewarding, but no one ever said it would be easy. Finding healthy, kid-approved meals is difficult just about any time of day. However, you can still prepare nutritious meals for your toddlers in just a few minutes. There is no need for an oven, stove top or any fancy equipment to make your kids one of these quick meals. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Breakfast
Getting out of the house in the morning can make a healthy breakfast tough, especially for toddlers. Top half a bagel with peanut butter and sliced bananas for a quick breakfast. You and the kids can make a homemade trail mix on the weekend to enjoy for breakfast during the week. Fill an airtight container with cereal, granola, raisins, nuts and a few chocolate chips. Portion them out into plastic baggies in the morning and eat them on the go if you're in a rush.
Lunch and Dinner
Use leftover chicken from last night's dinner, or buy an already cooked rotisserie chicken for this easy sandwich. Shred or pull apart the cooked chicken and combine in a bowl with barbecue sauce. Add to hot dog or hamburger buns and serve with a side of cut-up fruit. For a slightly more refined sandwich, combine 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 tbsp. lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Fold in about 1.5 lbs. of cooked, cut shrimp and 2 stalks of diced celery. Add the mixture to a hamburger or hot dog bun filled with lettuce for an extra crunch.
Snack Time
An upscale dip will impress even the adults in your house. In a blender or food processor, puree 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, 1 cup Greek yogurt, 1/2 small garlic clove. Add salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate for about 20 minutes, or until the mixture thickens slightly. Serve with a variety of cut-up vegetables for a healthy afternoon snack.
Crowd Pleasers
You can make these no-cook dishes for sleepovers, birthday parties or whenever there's an unexpected gathering of picky toddlers at your house. Sandwich sushi rolls are easy to make and have a lovely presentation. Cut the crusts off of several slices of bread and flatten with a rolling pin. Mix together two parts softened cream cheese and one part sour cream and spread onto each slice. Top with a slice of lunch meat. Add a few cucumber, carrot or celery matchsticks to the bottom of each slice. Roll up the bread and cut into three or four pieces. Make as many as you like and serve on a large platter. For an easy dip, mix together 8 oz. softened cream cheese, 8 oz. sour cream and one package of taco seasoning. Spread the mixture into the bottom of a glass baking dish. Top with layers of shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced green onions, shredded cheese or salsa. Serve with tortilla chips.
Tags: cream cheese, each slice, pepper taste, picky toddlers, salt pepper, salt pepper taste, Serve with