10 dinner ideas for fussy eating toddlers
Living with fussy eaters, especially toddlers (who cannot reason so well!) can be a VERY frustrating time for parents. The key is to keep pushing forward and focusing on choosing healthy, better for you options for your children to eat.
Healthy eating with children is a journey and it does take time. Just try to stay calm and know that kids won’t essentially let themselves starve. Aim to also eat the same meal as your child as you are their biggest motivator for eating. And relax.
You can enjoy healthy meals like this that are suitable for the whole family when you join the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge.
10 delicious and nutritious ideas for your fussy eating toddler
And if you love these ideas – get all the recipes and more when you join 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge.Â
1. Homemade chicken nuggets
Chicken nuggets are only a less than ideal choice when you a) don’t know what has gone into them b) they have an endless ingredient list and c) they are deep fried d) not served with anything else.
Make your own with some chunks of chicken breast, egg, flour and breadcrumbs, and either shallow pan fry or bake them off with a light coat of oil spray to make them golden.
Serve them with other kid-friendly sized morsels like peas and mini carrots and even a couple of lovely colorful dips and you have a winner for dinner!
See the homemade chicken nuggets recipe here
2. Savory pancakes with healthy toppings
Everybody loves pancakes! The pancake itself is not bad for you, it is the lashings of jam, sugar, ice cream or chocolate sauce that are added to it that are. So really, pancakes can be a great option for a meal with fussy toddlers.
Wrap the pancakes around some delicious homemade Meat Sauce with plenty of veggies grated inside and you have an easy fussy eater proof meal which everyone will adore. Mind the mess though! Grab a pancake recipe from the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge.
3. Baked potatoes topped with a delicious assortment of veggies, homemade dips or sauces.
Potatoes are often seen as being an unhealthy food because of the way we cook it or where we buy it from. Deep fried from a fast food store. But made lovingly at home, potatoes are packed full of nutrition, especially vitamin C!
Get the kids to wrap them up in foil, pop them in the oven, BBQ or even open fire and then get around to setting up an assortment of healthy toppings. Homemade dips, beans, cheese, and veggies. Allowing kids to help themselves is an easier way to get acceptance.
Get the recipe for The Ultimate Baked Potato from the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge.
4. Green eggs and ham
Read the book and serve the meal! You can make the eggs green with beautiful nourishing vegetables such as spinach finely chopped or pureed or even a delicious basil pesto.
Herbs such as basil and parsley are jam-packed full of nutrition. Cooked and mash some peas for another vegetable to include in the eggs, whether they’re boiled, poached or scrambled is up to you.
5. Porcupine Meatballs
Many kids find meat difficult to eat, especially chew. Meatballs are a perfect and budget-friendly way to get your kids to eat meat and increase their intake of iron. Bite-sized pieces are best. Just let them get messy!
See the Slow Cooked Porcupine Meatballs recipe in the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge.Â
6. Risotto balls, packed full of veggies
Make risotto as normal and pack it full of veggies and lovely wholesome ingredients. When the risotto is cooked it should be gooey and sticky. Let it settle for a while and cool down. Then scoop out golf sized little balls and shallow-fry them in a pan. Kids love to eat bite-sized food so this should work a treat.
Try any of the risotto recipes in the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge for this one. Lots of kids love our Bacon, Spinach and Tomato Risotto.
7. Creamy Bacon and Mushroom Ravioli
Kids tend to love pasta, and this one helps you pack in even more goodness in a delicious creamy sauce! Plus for little ones the little parcels are just the right size to hold onto.
You can get the Creamy Bacon and Mushroom Ravioli recipe here
8. Pick and choose Mexican food
You can easily make the Mexican food that you love to appeal to little ones. Serving their meal it in a deconstructed way is a great option if your fussy eater doesn’t like food all mixed together or touching.
So make a plate with some grated cheese, mashed avocado, a wrap, some cooked chicken and some sliced cherry tomatoes and your toddler can pick and choose what they like.
We have a TON of Mexican meals available in the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge recipe hub.
9. Tasting platesÂ
In a similar way to #8, tasting plates of all sort of things from the kitchen is a great way to give fussy eaters lots of options. It might be some reheated leftovers, carrot sticks and hummus, some blueberries, some grated cheese, and a chopped up sausage.
Keeping the options healthy means you as a parent don’t need to worry or fuss over what they eat (or don’t). Let them experience the ride. Better yet, eat it under the table.
10. Fish and chips
Similarly to chicken nuggets, fish and chips get a bad reputation because of where we buy it from and how they are cooked. Make it at home with some lightly coated fish bites and bake it in the oven. It will only take a few minutes.
For the chips, try different colors of vegetables that bake well. Think potato, sweet potato, parsnip, and beetroot even! Roast away (it will take around an hour all up to be yummy and crispy) but the colors are a rainbow of exploration and also a wealth of nutrition.
Find the recipe for Quick & Easy Fish & Chips in the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge recipe hub.
Are you ready to become a Healthy Mommy?
Regain your body confidence with The Healthy Mommy’s 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge.
Our Challenge is designed by moms FOR MOMS – to help them reach their goal weight and tackle their health and fitness.
The Challenge is home to customizable meal plans, 24/7 social support and realistic exercises moms can do AT HOME.
To find out more on the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge click here.