Monday, February 25, 2013

Toddler Meals

Happy Monday!

Our weekend was fun, despite the fact that no one bought our house. (Why are all homebuyers in our area being so selfish and slow I wonder?)

Yesterday we took Emerson to the mall. Naturally, we had to pop into the Disney Store because that's where dreams come true. Then we get to a display rack and see a Minnie Mouse lunch bag, and girlfriend went nuts! 


"Minnie! Minnie! MINNIE!"

I didn't even know that she understood the difference between Mickey and Minnie, but boy did she! She grabbed that thing right off the rack and held on for dear life. So of course we had to buy it for her. (I wonder how we'll respond some day when she goes "Mercedes!!" "Spring Break in Cabo!" Is that how the kids on Super Sweet 16 get away with it???)

But for the bargain price of $12.50, this little bag made her happy so there we go.

After bedtime, I decided a new lunch bag meant new lunch ideas. I try really hard to come up with creative, healthy foods to pack in her lunch every day, but I feel like I'm in a rut.

Here's what Emerson eats in a typical day:

Breakfast: Whole grain toast with butter, strawberries, milk (oh dear does she love her milk)

Snacks: Bananas, graham crackers, Cheerios, apples

Lunch: Cheese cubes, apple sauce, crackers, kiwi, pinwheels with vegetable cream cheese, green peppers, leftovers from our dinner the night before. Easy stuffed that can be packed for "school" and doesn't necessarily have to be heated up.

Dinner: Whole grain pasta, broccoli/peas/carrots/some kind of vegetable, cottage cheese



What do you feed your little munchkin?? Ideas welcome :)

3 comments:

  1. Colin loves multigrain Eggo blueberry waffles (we have them plain and they're just as good!) for any meal really. We also do "taco" night and just switch up the meat/fish with it (I do my own seasoning).

    Lunch is usually whatever I can throw together (mostly deli meat or leftovers).We also do a lot of scrambled eggs with every kind of veggie we can throw in there. I know its kind of vague but hope that helps!!

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  2. Samantha (born the same day as Emerson) typically eats like this:
    Breakfast- 2 Hard Boiled Eggs and a Banana
    Pre Nap Snack- Yogurt or Applesauce with Veggie purees hidden-I mean mixed in :)
    Post Nap Meal- Fish or Chicken, Cheese, and a homemade Veggie Pouch
    Snack while I am cooking dinner- Processed Organic Toddler Food (Fiddle Sticks, Teensy Fruits, Cheddar Bunnies) and I put what ever raw veggies I have on hand while I am cooking her tray but she just plays with those for the most part.
    Dinner- What ever we are having. Her favorites are Meatloaf, Meatballs, Pasta, Asparagus, Couscous, Quinoa, and any kind of soup.

    I will have to try the pinwheels. I think she would like that :)

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  3. I had lots of thoughtful ideas written until mine stole the iPad and saw your Emerson at the top and said "Emmy!" (the baby at her babysitter is also Emerson:) Anyway, here are a few staples from the past year for us:
    -YOGURT (mostly Yobaby organic with puree already mixed in, but also Chobani and Yoplait for kids that is also natural)
    -Happy Baby/Ella's Kitchen purees in a pouch (she is just now rejecting these, but they were a fab way to get veggies in for about a year!)
    -Same brands as above have yogurt melts and puffs. I mix both of those with goldfish and Craisins and she has "nack mix" that she eats every time we go somewhere that we need stamina;o)
    -She loves raisins at the babysitters, we just don't ever buy them because we don't like them
    -Mini pancakes and waffles are a hit.
    -crackers and hummus (she of course only likes Sabra)
    -Giant Eagle brand veggies sticks and veggie chips

    So those are a bunch of snacks. As far as entrees go, we do all beef hot dogs, mac & cheese, and nuggets a lot. Which I swore I wouldn't do, but at least she is eating and I try to choose healthy versions of those. Then, I always offer what we are eating and she likes about 2/10 things I offer. Oh well. I just always think, did I offer at least one thing from each food group? That is honestly how I meal plan for her and it works pretty well:)

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