Welcome, parents in the trenches of toddlerhood! If you've ever found yourself in the epic battle of snack time versus tantrums or engaged in negotiations over peas versus mac 'n cheese, then this blog post is for you. We've compiled a survival guide of snack and mealtime hacks to help you navigate the culinary chaos that comes with raising tiny humans. From clever snack ideas to quick meal solutions, we've got your back. Plus, we've rounded up some fantastic lunch boxes designed specifically for portioning out snacks and meals, making meal prep a breeze! So grab a cup of coffee (or maybe something stronger), and let's dive into the delicious world of feeding toddlers!
- Pre-cut and Pre-portion: Spend some time in the morning or during naptime pre-cutting fruits, vegetables, and other snacks into toddler-friendly sizes. Portion them into small containers or ziplock bags so they’re ready to grab when hunger strikes.
- Make it Fun: Use cookie cutters to shape sandwiches, fruits, and vegetables into fun shapes. Toddlers are more likely to eat foods that are visually appealing and interesting. Check out this Sandwich Cutter for Kids with 48 pieces.
- Smoothie Pops: Blend together yogurt, fruits, and a bit of honey, then pour the mixture into popsicle molds for a healthy and refreshing snack.
- Mini Muffins: Bake mini muffins with hidden veggies or fruits. Carrot muffins, zucchini muffins, and banana muffins are great options. They’re perfect for little hands and can be easily stored and reheated.
- Dip It: Serve sliced fruits, vegetables, and crackers with a variety of dips like hummus, yogurt dip, or peanut butter. Toddlers love to dip and it makes eating more interactive.
- DIY Trail Mix/Oat Bars: Create your own trail mix using a variety of nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and a few chocolate chips for a special treat. Let your toddler help mix it together.
- Frozen Grapes: Freeze grapes for a sweet and refreshing snack. They’re like little bite-sized popsicles and are perfect for teething toddlers.
- Mini Quesadillas: Fill small tortillas with cheese, beans, and veggies, then fold and cook until crispy. Cut them into small triangles for little hands to hold. Tip: Use Greek Yogurt instead of Sour Cream as a topping. Also great served with salsa and avocado.
- Breakfast as a snack: Sometimes it’s okay to switch things up and have breakfast any other time than the am. Serve pancakes, scrambled eggs, and fruit for a quick and easy meal. You can also make mini pancake bites with bacon or peanut butter and cut fruit like strawberries.
- Make Ahead Meals: Prepare meals in advance and freeze them in individual portions. This way, you always have something nutritious on hand that can be quickly reheated when time is tight.
- One-Pot Meals: Simplify meal prep and clean-up by making one-pot meals like pasta dishes, soups, or stir-fries. They’re quick to make and usually contain a variety of food groups.
- Involve Them: Let your toddler help with meal prep. Even simple tasks like stirring, pouring, and tearing lettuce can make them more excited about eating.
Check out our top picks for lunch boxes that make portioning snacks and meals a snap:
- Bentgo® Kids Leak-Proof, 5-Compartment Bento-Style Kids Lunch Box
- Munchkin® Lunch™ Bento Box for Kids, Includes Utensils
- Snack Keeper
- GoBe Kids Original Snack Spinner Bundle with Hand Strap and Sticker Sheet - Reusable Snack Container with 5 Compartment Dispenser and Lid
- Munchkin® Snack Catcher® Toddler Snack Cups, 2 Pack
- WeeSprout Snack Containers, Food Grade Silicone Snack Cups, Spill-Proof Tops For Toddlers and Babies
- Bentgo® Kids Snack - 2 Compartment Leak-Proof Bento-Style Food Storage
- 10 Oz Chip Resistant Reusable Wheat Straw Cups with Lid, Drinking Cups, with Silicone Straws - BPA Free & Dishwasher Safe for Milk, Drinks, Smoothies
BERRY OAT BAR RECIPE:
Ingredients: 1/3 cup Maple syrup, 1/2 cup Raspberry preserves, 1 1/2 cup Quick oats, 1 1/2 cup All-purpose flour, 1 tsp Baking powder, 1/3 cup Coconut sugar, 1/2 tsp Salt, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1/2 cup Coconut oil
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line an 8x8 inch baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a small saucepan, combine the maple syrup and raspberry preserves over low heat. Stir until well combined and smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the quick oats, all-purpose flour, baking powder, coconut sugar, and salt. Stir until evenly mixed.
- Add the vanilla extract and coconut oil to the dry ingredients. Use a fork or pastry cutter to incorporate the coconut oil until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Take half of the oat mixture and press it firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form an even layer.
- Spread the raspberry preserves mixture evenly over the oat layer in the baking dish.
- Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture evenly over the raspberry layer, pressing gently to adhere.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the edges are slightly crisp.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the baking dish before cutting into bars.
- Once cooled, cut into bars and serve. Enjoy your delicious berry oat bars!
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BLACK BEAN / SPINACH / CHEESE QUESADILLA:
Ingredients: 1 can black beans, 1 chicken bouillon cube, 1 can of tomatoes, 1 clove of garlic, Tortillas of your choice (flour or corn), 1 Tomato diced, 1 cup of cheddar cheese , 1 cup of cooked spinach cut, 1 Lime
Directions:
- Drain and rinse the black beans from the can.
- In a saucepan, add the drained black beans, can of diced tomatoes and Chicken Boullion cube, and crushed garlic.
- Stir the mixture well and let it simmer for about 5-10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together. Mash some of the black beans slightly if desired.
- While the black bean mixture is simmering, heat a separate skillet over medium heat.
- Place a tortilla in the skillet and let it warm for about 30 seconds.
- Sprinkle a layer of cheddar cheese evenly over one half of the tortilla.
- Spoon a layer of the cooked black bean mixture over the cheese.
- Add some diced tomato and cooked spinach over the black beans.
- Squeeze some fresh lime juice over the toppings.
- Fold the tortilla in half over the filling, pressing gently with a spatula to seal.
- Cook the quesadilla for 2-3 minutes on each side, until the tortilla is golden brown and the cheese is melted. Squeeze more lime as it cooks. Flip and make sure each side it crispy.
- Remove the quesadilla from the skillet and let it cool for a minute before slicing it into wedges.
- Serve hot with your favorite toppings like salsa, sour cream or avocado. You can replace the sour cream with Greek Yogurt for a healthier option.
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So there you have it, fellow toddler-taming warriors! Snack and mealtime hacks to keep your little ones happy and well-fed. But hey, parenting is a collaborative sport, right? Have any secret weapons up your sleeve that we missed? Share your culinary conquests in the comments below. Let’s swap tips, tricks, and maybe a few war stories over spilled milk. Together, we’ve got this! 💪
#MomLife #ToddlerTales
xxx
Disclaimer: Just a heads up, fellow parents! This blog post contains some Amazon affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). These little commissions help keep the snacks flowing and the toddlers smiling. Thanks for your support! 💖 #AffiliateLove