Top Meal Ideas For Babies and Toddlers

Top Meal Ideas for Babies and Toddlers

The lovely Danni Duncan, nutrition and fitness coach and Mumma to 2 year old Harper, has put together a little blog for us on her favourite meals for babies and toddlers.

Over to Danni, and be sure to check out her Instagram @thefigure_

There are lots of ideas and recipes out there - and I have a stack on my website as well - but we all have our go to’s so have a read below - I hope your Bub loves them as much as Harper.

BREAKY:

Our number 1 go to would have to be porridge.  I stack a whole lot of nutrients in there so it’s not only great for her but yummy and filling. 

Harper’s has

• Oats - full of fibre, iron, B vitamins for immune health, magnesium, and lots of antioxidants,
• Full cream A2 milk - great source of Calcium, protein and potassium
• Banana - full of potassium to help out body function, Vitamin C and B6, and Fibre
• Flaxseeds - great source of fibre and healthy fats
• Chia seeds - full of fibre and loads of minerals
• Peanut butter - great source of protein, healthy fats, magnesium and antioxidants
• Berries to top - which are super rich in vitamins  especially vitamin C and magnesium

LUNCH:

Our little Harper has never been a huge lunch fan - she’s more of a grazer around lunch time so my best meal idea for her lunch is usually a little smogasbord.  Best served in baby luno’s plate with divider.  Sometimes I give her a slice of bread as well - but it’s not usually necessary if she eats most of this. 

Harper usually has

• Diced avocado - full of healthy fats, vitamin C, folate an potassium (more than a banana)
• Sweet corn kernels - high in vitamin C (and really just super fun to eat one at a time…..)
• Roasted pumpkin - packed with fibre and vitamin A (great for eyesight and immune system)
• Smoked Salmon - great source of protein, omega 3 fatty acids

Other things you can add on there - white beans, boiled eggs, cheese slices, baby corn spears, roasted sweet potato, roast chicken, asparagus spears, steamed broccoli florettes, cherry tomatoes (cut in half) quinoa, baked beans

DINNER:

This is a hard one as she loves dinner time - anything from risotto, to stews, to another smorgasbord or just fish and veggies she’ll basically smash anything I give her which is fab. Her favourite would have to be a pasta dish though.  The great thing about pasta is that you can pack it full of veges, they can eat it with their hands and you can make a stack and freeze it so it’s on call for those nights you’re not sure what to do.

Harpers faves would be

• Salmon and vege pasta bake
• Spaghetti bolognese
• And although there’s not a huge amount of nutrients in it by itself - Mac & Cheese is a fab treat.  To get some vege in there you can always roast some pumpkin and blend it in with the cheese sauce before adding to the macaroni

SNACKS

Once you have a baby snacks become life - especially if you’re out and about or traveling.  If I thought my husband got hangry - that’s nothing compared to a hungry baby.

Harper’s faves would have to be:

• Boiled eggs - full of protein
• Banana pancakes
• Greek Yoghurt pouches full of calcium and protein (not flavoured - there’s loads of sugar with flavoured yoghurt)
• Bananas
• Oat flapjacks
• Cheese
• Berries or other fruit - just be careful with fruit intake as it is high in sugar
• Baby Corn spears

Check out the baby luno Meal Time Range here