Healthier Dinner Ideas for Toddlers and Preschoolers
{Updated June 2023}
It’s almost 5pm and you don’t have the foggiest idea what to serve your toddler for dinner…
Your child has requested hot dogs for the 15th day in a row…
You’re on a first name basis with the pizza delivery guy…
Sound familiar? Read on my friend.
I’ve got some fantastic ideas to get out of the dinner time rut.
But before we get to the “big kid” recipes, if your child is just starting solids I have two recommendations for you:
If you want to know which foods to introduce by month
100 recipes for your baby that the whole family will enjoy
You know that diet and nutrition play a huge role with sleep!
I can shout the best sleep advice from every rooftop in America, but if a child is downing Mountain Dews in the late afternoon or solely on the “white diet” (pasta, bread, sugar), my advice will be a band-aid (at best).
So if you’re a parent who knows the “kid’s meal” menu served up nightly at your house needs some revamping, take a look at the recipes below for some inspiration!
Some are a healthier twist on an old favorite (mac and cheese, pizza, chicken nuggets, tater tots) and others are a reminder of some fun recipes you may have forgotten about:
No Pasta Mac and Cheese Cups – much healthier version of traditional mac and cheese…and no pasta?!
Sweet Potato Noodle Ham and Cheese Cups - if your kids like a ham and cheese sandwich, they’ll love these!
Lettuce Wraps – Not only are these fun to eat but you’re combining salad and protein. Genius!
Mac and Cheese Soup – If you have a mac and cheese lover in your house, this recipe is a logical next step!
Vegetable Birds Nests – A unique spin on getting veggies in your kiddo!
Cauliflower crust pizza and calzone – yum. Just yum.
Gluten free chicken nuggets – if you’re trying to steer away from boxed nuggets and make a healthier version with fewer ingredients
Homemade Mac and Cheese – from Missy Chase Lapine from the Sneaky Chef…so it has veggies in the recipe!
Zucchini Pizza Casserole – if your child loves pizza, this recipe has all the tomato-y and cheesy goodness too!
Cheesy Cauliflower Tater Tots – if your child loves the potato version, try some of these
Kabobs – The sky’s the limit on these. Deli meat, cheese cubes and olives. Cubed bread, deli meat, cheese and tomatoes. Grilled shrimp, bell peppers and snow peas. Cheese ravioli, meatballs, tomatoes. Grilled chicken, pineapple and bell peppers. And here’s a fun trick to use for the younger kids who aren’t quite ready for the wooden skewer (no wooden or metal skewers required!).
Tic Tac Toe Eggplant – I remember seeing this recipe years ago…Preheat oven to 400°. Peel an eggplant and cut into strips (lengthwise). Prepare two bowls, one with an egg and 1/4 cup of milk together and the other with bread crumbs or parmesan cheese. Dip each eggplant strip in the wet bowl and then coat with the breadcrumbs (or cheese) and bake for 20 minutes. Place 4 strips in a tic tac toe grid with veggies as the games pieces. This is one time it’s ok to play with your food!
Tempura – green beans, carrots, broccoli, shrimp…so many options!
Pasta Bake – with hidden veggies!
Mini Chicken Pot Pie Muffins – these are in muffin form, so easier for toddlers to pick up and eat
Baked spaghetti and meatballs – this is so cheesy and delicious!
Salmon Patties – from canned salmon, they have vegetables and lots of flavor!
Mini meatballs – you can also serve the meatballs separately with a tooth pick (for older kids) which makes these a lot more fun to eat!
And we can’t forget the two favorite kid’s condiments!
Ketchup – Take a look at the bottle in your fridge. Does it have high fructose corn syrup? Try this instead…
Ranch Dressing – no hard to pronounce ingredients in this recipe…
One technique that works with the uber stubborn eater:
A “No More, Thank You Bite” – a family recently shared this with me and while we do something similar at our house, I think the name is great! When you’re trying new foods, your child has to try at least one bite of each food on the plate and if he doesn’t like it, teach him to say “no more, thank you”. Remember that kids need to be exposed to new foods 10-20 times before they start liking it, so keep offering even if you crashed and burned with try #1 :)
I’ll leave you with a favorite quote…
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This post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you, your child and/or your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your child’s physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here.