50 healthy meal and snack ideas that are kid-friendly and require minimal cooking and no recipe! Includes a free printable PDF!
So here’s the deal: I have one strict rule I’m asking Ted to follow with the arrival of a new baby + a house filled with hungry toddlers and company. When we have guests over, I’m asking he to be in charge of meals.
I not-so-fondly remember being asked my opinion for, “pizza or sushi?” once Joey was born and, “what should I feed Joey?” once Anthony was born, all while I was trying to get the hang of nursing a baby.
Now don’t get the wrong idea here in thinking Ted needs hand-holding or can’t make food decisions on his own. He most certainly can! But when it comes to food and our family, I most often make the decisions.
So now that I’m giving him full control while I’m recovering with baby sis I’m having to learn to let go and also not care so much if the boys eat the same thing two days in a row. I’m fairly certain they won’t be disappointed in the summer of pizza if you know what I mean….
In an effort to ensure we are all enjoying well-balanced meals while Mom is recovering, I’ve put together a list of kid-friendly meal and snack ideas for Ted, babysitters, in-laws, my parents, etc. to reference when that time of the day comes with my hangry little toddlers are ready for their next meal. Or the group in the room is trying to decide what we have to eat!
Note: My fridge, freezer, and pantry are well stocked with the ingredients to make each of these things. And this is more of a guideline vs. rule book. My hope is that it serves as inspiration for you or someone you know who needs a break from the kitchen while tending to a new baby!
→ Click here to download a PDF of all of these kid-friendly meal and snack ideas
Kid-Friendly Snacks: 18
[Try to include 1-2 food groups and always offer water first, then milk]
Cheerios + Raisins + Chocolate Chips
Goldfish + Dried Cherries
![What My Toddler Eats in a Day If you’ve had the luxury of making meals for a toddler you’ll quickly appreciate the one constant that comes from creating a toddler feeding routine. Here’s a look at what my toddler eats in a day- from breakfast to dinner and snacks included! The biggest difference I’ve noticed between feeding a baby and feeding a toddler is that my toddlers thrive off of a schedule. And that goes beyond mealtime too- they do well with a schedule for activities and sleep. But really, Mom does too, so that shouldn’t surprise me that they are following in my footsteps. So what does a day in the life of feeding my toddlers look like? Here you have it! Hopefully Joey and Anthony’s toddler feeding schedule provides you with some ideas for structure. And please note, this isn’t precise and everyday changes depending on moods, sickness, and lack of sleep! Mom’s lack of sleep that is…. Nutrition NOTES: I have to throw this in somewhere and right here seems like a good spot. So at each MEAL, I try to always include these food groups: 3 MEALS DAILY: Fruit + Vegetable + Whole Grain + Protein [this also includes dairy foods] 2 SNACKS DAILY: For each SNACK, I always try to include these food groups: Fruit OR Vegetable + Whole Grain + Protein [this could be milk, which also is part of the Dairy food group] While I think there is a time and place to consider portion sizes [i.e. when they are offered a piece of cake at a birthday party], I’m not one for sitting and measuring out their food. Or do I necessarily keep track of things like, “today Joey must have 5 servings of fruit and vegetables.” I try to keep my nutrition notes shown above in mind with every meal and snack, and I also rely on their little tummies to tell themselves and ME when enough is enough. Easier said than done when presented with that piece of cake… but that’s why I’m not baking everyday! Breakfast: 7:30-8:30am It’s smoothie time! These boys love smoothies! Ted and the crew make a smoothie every morning before Ted goes to work (usually with spinach, avocado, fruit, milk, or yogurt). I usually sit back with a cup of coffee and watch their bonding over smoothies--- NOT! I’m racing around folding laundry, showering before Dad leaves, or making them part 2 of their breakfast. Along with a smoothie, I’ll offer them a whole grain option, such as an oatmeal breakfast cookie, a piece of peanut butter toast, or a pancake topped with peanut butter or Greek yogurt. This ensures they are getting a good mix of fruit, vegetables, protein, and whole grains to start their day! Mid-Morning Snack: 9:30-10:30am I think Joey and Anthony could live happily off of whole cow’s milk and all other dairy products. We are a Midwestern family after all! Their morning snack usually includes some type of dairy product--- milk, cottage cheese, or yogurt. Mix that with a bite or two of Mom’s apple, a mini muffin, or Clif Z Bar, and that holds them over until lunch. If we are out and about, then I’m sure to pack fruit and veggie squeeze packs, homemade trail mix, beef jerky, or more Clif Z Bars! Sometimes I’ll also have their leftover smoothie from breakfast as their mid-morning snack. Lunch: 11:30-12:00pm Lunch is usually “everything but the kitchen sink” for my guys. As much as I like to plan ahead, we are either on the go or running in the front door around lunchtime. They always have some type of fruit (clementines and watermelon are hit on the list right now) served with fresh or roasted veggies [I roast the veggies on the weekend to use all week]. Veggies of choice lately are red bell peppers. Yep. That’s it. Red bell peppers. OH and over-cooked broccoli. They chow that…. Along with the fruit and veggie, we have grilled cheese, macaroni and cheese, lunchmeat quesadillas, or anything between two slices of bread with cheese. You catch the theme here, right?! They’ve also been loving Applegate beef hot dogs and Al Fresco Chicken Sausages. Mid-Afternoon Snack: 2:30-3:30pm The afternoon snack is less messy [meaning Mom doesn’t want to clean a yogurt mess]. So we’ll do string cheese with Wheat Thins, trail mix, dried cereal with dried fruit, half a peanut butter sandwich, etc. etc. I rounded up a list of my favorite toddler’s snack for my friend Lindsay over on her blog last year. There’s not much changing in toddler food preferences… so the snack list lives on at the Serbinski’s! Dinner: 5:30-6:30pm Dinner. Oh dinner. The dreaded mealtime with toddlers. I’ve drawn a hard line with this one and the whole family eats what Mom cooks. If there’s a toddler protest [which has been known to happen multiple times a week] I make sure I always have something they like on the table--- and some nights that’s rolls. I also offer ONE thing that’s not on the table as a backup. And I try to make it as bland as possible… like plain cottage cheese! No bells and whistles there. But it’s nutritious and a good backup! So there you have it. As you can see, our day revolves around food. Heck, I could write a whole post on a toddler feeding schedule so that only means one thing: toddlers are food obsessed!](https://i0.wp.com/momtomomnutrition.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/IMG_3494-1024x1024.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024)
Hard-Boiled Egg + Raisins
Granola Bar + Nut Butter to Dip or Spread on Top [Optional]
Hummus + Crackers + Veggie Sticks
Cottage Cheese/Yogurt + Fresh Fruit
Cheese Slices + Whole Grain Crackers
Apple Slices + Nut Butter
Mini Rice Cakes + Nut Butter
Fresh Fruit + Cheese Stick + Pretzels
Banana Slices + Chocolate Milk
Whole Grain Cereal + Milk
Homemade Mini Muffin [2-3 Max]
Baby Carrots or Sliced Cucumbers + Ranch
Popcorn + Dried Fruit
Smoothie [with fruit + spinach + milk]
Whole Wheat Tortilla + Cheese
Frozen Yogurt Fruit Popsicles
Kid-Friendly Breakfasts: 7
[Always include 2-3 food groups and offer milk or water]
Whole Grain Waffle [topped with nut butter] + Fruit
Yogurt + Granola + Fruit Smoothie [with spinach + fruit + milk]
French Toast [topped with nut butter] + Avocado Slices
Whole Grain Cereal + Milk + Fruit
Egg and Cheese Toast + Fruit
Homemade Mini Muffin + Cottage Cheese + Fresh Berries
![What My Toddler Eats in a Day If you’ve had the luxury of making meals for a toddler you’ll quickly appreciate the one constant that comes from creating a toddler feeding routine. Here’s a look at what my toddler eats in a day- from breakfast to dinner and snacks included! The biggest difference I’ve noticed between feeding a baby and feeding a toddler is that my toddlers thrive off of a schedule. And that goes beyond mealtime too- they do well with a schedule for activities and sleep. But really, Mom does too, so that shouldn’t surprise me that they are following in my footsteps. So what does a day in the life of feeding my toddlers look like? Here you have it! Hopefully Joey and Anthony’s toddler feeding schedule provides you with some ideas for structure. And please note, this isn’t precise and everyday changes depending on moods, sickness, and lack of sleep! Mom’s lack of sleep that is…. Nutrition NOTES: I have to throw this in somewhere and right here seems like a good spot. So at each MEAL, I try to always include these food groups: 3 MEALS DAILY: Fruit + Vegetable + Whole Grain + Protein [this also includes dairy foods] 2 SNACKS DAILY: For each SNACK, I always try to include these food groups: Fruit OR Vegetable + Whole Grain + Protein [this could be milk, which also is part of the Dairy food group] While I think there is a time and place to consider portion sizes [i.e. when they are offered a piece of cake at a birthday party], I’m not one for sitting and measuring out their food. Or do I necessarily keep track of things like, “today Joey must have 5 servings of fruit and vegetables.” I try to keep my nutrition notes shown above in mind with every meal and snack, and I also rely on their little tummies to tell themselves and ME when enough is enough. Easier said than done when presented with that piece of cake… but that’s why I’m not baking everyday! Breakfast: 7:30-8:30am It’s smoothie time! These boys love smoothies! Ted and the crew make a smoothie every morning before Ted goes to work (usually with spinach, avocado, fruit, milk, or yogurt). I usually sit back with a cup of coffee and watch their bonding over smoothies--- NOT! I’m racing around folding laundry, showering before Dad leaves, or making them part 2 of their breakfast. Along with a smoothie, I’ll offer them a whole grain option, such as an oatmeal breakfast cookie, a piece of peanut butter toast, or a pancake topped with peanut butter or Greek yogurt. This ensures they are getting a good mix of fruit, vegetables, protein, and whole grains to start their day! Mid-Morning Snack: 9:30-10:30am I think Joey and Anthony could live happily off of whole cow’s milk and all other dairy products. We are a Midwestern family after all! Their morning snack usually includes some type of dairy product--- milk, cottage cheese, or yogurt. Mix that with a bite or two of Mom’s apple, a mini muffin, or Clif Z Bar, and that holds them over until lunch. If we are out and about, then I’m sure to pack fruit and veggie squeeze packs, homemade trail mix, beef jerky, or more Clif Z Bars! Sometimes I’ll also have their leftover smoothie from breakfast as their mid-morning snack. Lunch: 11:30-12:00pm Lunch is usually “everything but the kitchen sink” for my guys. As much as I like to plan ahead, we are either on the go or running in the front door around lunchtime. They always have some type of fruit (clementines and watermelon are hit on the list right now) served with fresh or roasted veggies [I roast the veggies on the weekend to use all week]. Veggies of choice lately are red bell peppers. Yep. That’s it. Red bell peppers. OH and over-cooked broccoli. They chow that…. Along with the fruit and veggie, we have grilled cheese, macaroni and cheese, lunchmeat quesadillas, or anything between two slices of bread with cheese. You catch the theme here, right?! They’ve also been loving Applegate beef hot dogs and Al Fresco Chicken Sausages. Mid-Afternoon Snack: 2:30-3:30pm The afternoon snack is less messy [meaning Mom doesn’t want to clean a yogurt mess]. So we’ll do string cheese with Wheat Thins, trail mix, dried cereal with dried fruit, half a peanut butter sandwich, etc. etc. I rounded up a list of my favorite toddler’s snack for my friend Lindsay over on her blog last year. There’s not much changing in toddler food preferences… so the snack list lives on at the Serbinski’s! Dinner: 5:30-6:30pm Dinner. Oh dinner. The dreaded mealtime with toddlers. I’ve drawn a hard line with this one and the whole family eats what Mom cooks. If there’s a toddler protest [which has been known to happen multiple times a week] I make sure I always have something they like on the table--- and some nights that’s rolls. I also offer ONE thing that’s not on the table as a backup. And I try to make it as bland as possible… like plain cottage cheese! No bells and whistles there. But it’s nutritious and a good backup! So there you have it. As you can see, our day revolves around food. Heck, I could write a whole post on a toddler feeding schedule so that only means one thing: toddlers are food obsessed!](https://i0.wp.com/momtomomnutrition.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/IMG_6525.jpg?resize=640%2C640)
Freezer Pancakes + Fresh Berries + Sausage
Kid-Friendly Lunches: 8
[Always include 2-3 food groups and offer milk or water]
Hummus + Crackers + Banana + Crinkle Cut Carrots
Grilled Cheese + Sliced Apples or Veggie Sticks + Cottage Cheese
Hot Dog/Sausage + Fruit + Buttered Noodles with Parmesan Cheese
Peanut Butter Sandwich + Veggie Sticks + Ranch Dip
Turkey and Cheese Panini + Corn + Sliced Pears
Macaroni and Cheese + Sliced Peaches + Steamed Green Beans
Cheese Quesadilla + Salsa + Crinkle Cut Carrots + Yogurt
Pizza-Dillas [whole wheat tortilla + marinara + cheese] + Veggie Sticks + Ranch Dip
Kid-Friendly Dinners: 13
[Always include 2-3 food groups and offer milk; fruit NOT always necessary since they eat a lot of fruit throughout the day]
Frozen Meatballs + Pasta + Sauce + Green Veggie + Fresh Veggies
![I think this counts as Mom's favorite dinner. Hint hint... [if Dad is reading this].](https://i0.wp.com/momtomomnutrition.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/IMG_2985-1024x683.jpg?resize=1024%2C683)
Chicken Burgers + Roasted Potatoes + Green Veggie
Stir-Fry + Brown Rice + Simple Peanut Sauce [peanut butter + soy sauce] + Avocado Slices
BBQ Grilled Chicken + Broccoli + Watermelon
Shrimp Tacos + Corn + Guacamole/Avocado Slices
Sloppy Joe’s + Green Beans + Pineapple
Italian Seasoned Ground Beef + Pasta + Sauce + Green Veggie
Sliced Chicken Sausage + Pasta + Sauce + Green Veggie
Taco Salads [deconstructed for the boys] + Fresh Berries
Grilled Sausages + Watermelon + Corn + Whole Wheat Buns
Pasta + Amitriciana Sauce + Crinkle Cut Carrots + Avocado Slices
Grilled Cheese + Tomato Soup + Fresh Berries
Tortellini Soup + Parmesan Cheese + Green Beans + Apple Slices
Carry-Out Favorites: 4
Pizza + Green Veggie + Sliced Fruit [at home]
Sushi + Egg Rolls [the kids will eat 2 egg rolls]
Chicken Fingers + Fries + Green Veggie [at home]
Veggie Pad Thai + Spring Rolls [the kids will eat the noodles and veggies in light sauce]
And here’s the Serbinski produce “KEY” that we mix n’ match sides and snacks from:
Veggie Sticks: Sliced red, yellow, or orange bell pepper, sliced cucumbers, and steamed crinkle cut carrots
Favorite Fruits: Watermelon, grapes, bananas, apples, oranges, strawberries, pineapple
Favorite Veggies: Bell peppers, cucumbers [with dip], steamed crinkle cut carrots or green beans, corn, asparagus
Phew! Think I covered it all? Are there any simple meals you tend to keep on hand that keep your family fueled and full when you aren’t in the mood to cook?!
This is so helpful! I feel like I feed my daughter the same thing every night, I’m so glad to have some fresh ideas for her.
So glad you found it useful!
What a great idea to give a list for dads to help! Do you possibly have a printer friendly version? Thank you!
Hi Dana! I do not. But now you’ve given me a project for the weekend!! I’ll have it updated Monday 🙂
Where did you get the plates from ?
They are Re-Play Recycled plates. Target carries them now but I bought mine online.
This is such a great idea to prepare in advance. I have some excellent Tupperware containers for sale that will help keep these meals organized too!
http://ashleyhuitsing.tupperware.com/shop/on-the-go.html
Thanks Ashley!!
Thank you for making the PDF! I appreciate it so much.
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