Toddler Lunch Ideas Quick and Healthy

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Feeding two toddlers can be a bit tricky sometimes.  Sometimes they eat what I eat, and sometimes it’s just easier to make them something quick that I know they will eat. These Toddler Lunch Ideas are my go-to’s when I need something quick and healthy for lunch for them.

Since I stay at home with my twins, I make them lunch every day.  Sometimes I just heat up leftovers from the night before, but lately, the leftovers are becoming sparse at our house since they are getting bigger and eating more (and we have a family of 7).  That’s why these Toddler Lunch Ideas that are quick and healthy come in handy a lot!

Do you ever run out of toddler lunch ideas?

It can be exhausting making lunch every day and coming up with new ideas.  So sometimes I just like to make our usuals when it comes to lunch with my twins.  These ideas are easy, healthy, quick, and they like them.  I add in some new food every once in a while because I believe they should always be trying new (real) food.  And sometimes it’s surprising what they actually like!  Both of my twins love caesar salad…who knew!

Here are ideas I usually feed my twins for lunch for those days when I don’t want to spend a ton of time cooking and need something for them that is quick and healthy.  

These ideas are quick, easy, packed full of nutrition, and meals my twins love!  See if these ideas would work for your family.  You can always sub any fruit or veggie for whatever you have on hand.

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My Top List of 11 Quick and Healthy Toddler Lunch Ideas:

• Leftover healthy dinner from the night before

  • Make extra dinner so they can have it a couple of days for lunch.

  • I love this idea for lunch because it is fast and a healthy option!

  • A couple of healthy ideas would be Salmon (lots of Omega 3 Fatty Acids) with wild/brown rice or quinoa, and vegetables or a homemade soup.

  • I like to make lots of extra vegetables and brown rice or quinoa when I cook dinner and use the leftovers for lunches for my twins.  It’s a quick and healthy side.

•  Make a Toddler Charcuterie Board

  • Toddlers can share a big plate of this.  Add cheese slices, cut up ham or turkey, fresh sliced fruit, olives, cucumbers, and whole wheat crackers

  • This is such a fun and easy option.  I even like eating off this plate.  It’s all no-cook food and uses up what you have!

  • Sub the food for what you have and create your own!

  • You could also serve this with hummus for dipping.  So fun!

• Organic Chicken Noodle or Vegetable Soup (store-bought).

  • So easy and fast.  I always keep cartons of soup on hand for days when there is nothing else to cook and I need something fast!  I try to get low-sodium soup for my toddlers.

  • My twins like this Chicken Noodle Soup and love my super simple homemade one that is quick to make.

  • Serve with whole-grain crackers and a side of fruit.

  • Does your toddler go to daycare?  Pack it in a thermos!

• Organic Tomato Soup or Butternut Squash Soup (store-bought).  

  • Serve with some whole wheat crackers and fruit.

  • I add shredded cheese on top of these soups.  You can add some pasta or rice into the soup to make it even more filling!  I also try to get these soups in low-sodium if it’s available.

• 90-second organic rice (or Trader Joe’s steamable rice- in the frozen section), canned black beans, canned corn, avocado, sliced olives, tomatoes, shredded cheese, and organic corn chips.

  • We use rice like this when we want rice fast and easy.

  • This lunch is like a deconstructed taco.  It’s easy to eat and offers a variety of foods.

  • My boys love any meal with avocado (it’s full of good fat and very alkaline).

• Sunflower Butter and Jam sandwich with whole wheat bread or hemp bread

  • You could also use almond butter or peanut butter.  We usually use Valencia Peanut Butter.

  • I usually serve with cucumbers, cooked broccoli, cooked carrots, or peas.  Here’s 17 toddler sandwich ideas.

  • Serve with a side of cottage cheese or plain yogurt with berries.

Here’s a big list of toddler finger foods you can serve as sides with toddler meals.

• Sandwiches on Whole Wheat Bread with Turkey/Ham and Cheese

  • Serve with some fruit or veggies on the side.  Easy fruit my boys like to eat are blueberries, strawberries, avocado, bananas, pears, mandarins, and peaches.

  • You could also do other types of sandwiches such as cucumber and cream cheese, cucumber and hummus, or whatever else your toddler likes!

  • I also like serving these homemade fruit and nut bites as a side with my toddlers’ lunch.

• Fruit and Veggie Smoothie

  • Need lunch on the go?  Make a smoothie with plain yogurt, frozen fruit, oats, and avocado and/or spinach, a pinch of ground flax seeds, and water to get the consistency you like.  It’s filling and quick.  Good toddler snack, too.

  • We like to use these cups for our smoothies for our twins (they are inexpensive and you can use disposable straws in them and work great).

  • Offer cheese or a hard boiled egg with the smoothie for added protein.

• Hard Boiled Egg or Scrambled Egg

  • Serve with beans or a whole grain such as whole-wheat bread 

  • I usually serve with some vegetables such as peas or cucumbers or fruit

Related:  Easy Snack Ideas For Toddlers

• Chicken or ham chopped up (precooked) – or lunch meat with a hard-boiled egg

  • Serve with a side of fruit such as blueberries or strawberries and cooked broccoli.

  • You could also serve with whole wheat crackers or brown rice with butter.

  • My twins use these forks and spoons.  They are inexpensive, durable, and easy for them to use.

• Cheese Quesadilla on a Whole Wheat Tortilla

  • Serve with rice, olives, avocado, black beans, cheese, and tomatoes on the side.

  • You could also serve with a little salad or a side of fruit.

• English Muffin Pizzas – toddlers can help make these

  • Add your favorite toppings

• Organic Grass Fed Hot Dog (No nitrates or nitrites added)

  • I serve this without a bun and cut it up small.  I slice the hotdog four times lengthwise and lots of time the other way.

  • Serve with fruit such as blueberries or pear slices and/or butternut squash (I buy frozen pre-chopped veggies and steam for 10 mins.  It’s quick and easy).

  • Add a side of brown or wild rice with butter (the kind that cooks fast), or quinoa cooked from a previous day.

  • You could also try a small salad for a side with whatever kind of lettuce you have (You could add a small amount of dressing).  My boys are into lettuce right now.

Related: Easy and Healthy Breakfast Ideas For Toddlers

I always offer water with lunch and sometimes milk (if they aren’t eating a lof dairy that day or haven’t had much milk that day).

I try to sit down with my toddlers when we eat meals.  By using my fork and spoon, wiping my mouth, and not throwing my food everywhere when I am done, is setting an example for them.

Related: Daycare Snack Ideas For Toddlers

Lunchtime (or any meal time) is an excellent learning time for your toddler.

We also have good conversations at the table!  Talk to your toddler about their day, what’s on their plate and what it tastes like, etc. and they will have manners down in no time!  Even if you’re doing most the talking, they are seeing an example of what a positive mealtime looks like.

When they’re done have them put their dish in the sink (my toddlers do this automatically now, I love it).  This gives them independence and is a skill they can do all on their own.

Always supervise closely anytime your child is eating and make sure food is cut up small to prevent a choking hazard.

What are your toddler lunch ideas that are quick and healthy?  I would love to hear!

Related: 

How to Get Your Toddler To Eat Vegetables and Like Them!

Easy Dinner Ideas for Toddlers the Whole Family Can Eat

Healthy Finger Food Ideas for Toddlers