Let’s be honest- when it comes to food, we often find ourselves falling into the pattern of giving our kids the same things over and over. And although little ones do love repetition (i.e. demanding Trolls on repeat, reading Good Night Moon for the 50th night in a row), we as parents desire to introduce a variety of foods to their palate. This intention can only go so far when we are staring blankly at the fridge deciding what to pack for the following day or when we are shuffling through the grocery store aisles with a little one screaming for the giant box of rainbow gold fish (which, by the way, you already have stocked up on at home). The reality is the mental work that goes into meal planning can be one more thing that needs to be thought about.
So, after having asked this question myself and after hearing so many other moms ask, “What do you give your kids?” I figured I’d sit down and make a list. Whether packing for school, daycare or preparing snacks and lunch for days at home, I hope this list gives you some inspiration, new ideas and things to incorporate into your weekly food rotation.
SNACK IDEAS
Hummus (and baby carrots, cucumber slices, pretzels, pita bread, etc.)
Cheese stick
Baby bell cheese
Cheese & crackers
Olives (black, Kalamata)
Fruit cup
Avocado toast (with a little butter and salt)
Cream cheese (on toast, cinnamon raisin bread, mini bagel, waffle)
Peanut butter/ almond butter/sunbutter (on banana slices, celery sticks, apple slices, crackers, mini bagels, English muffins,waffle, rice cake, graham crackers)
Veggies and blue cheese/ranch dressing
Z bar
Granola bar
Fruit bar
Trail mix
Raisins
Craisins
Yogurt covered raisins
Hard boiled egg
Avocado (with salt, pepper, lime juice)
Yogurt/Greek yogurt (with cut up fruit/granola)
Fruit/veggie pouch
Frozen Go-gurt
Smoothies
Muffins
Apple sauce
Freeze dried fruit
Edamame
Cottage cheese (w. fresh fruit)
Guacamole (with pita chips, pretzel crisps, tortilla chips)
FRUIT IDEAS
Strawberries
Blueberries
Raspberries
Blackberries
Apple
Nectarine
Clementine
Tangerine
Orange slices
Grapes
Banana
Cantaloupe
Watermelon
Honeydew melon
Pomegranate seeds
Peaches
Pear
Fruit salad
Mango
Pineapple
VEGETABLE IDEAS
Baby carrots
Peas
Broccoli (with lemon and grated cheese or melted cheese)
Salad
Green beans
Riced cauliflower
Zucchini noodles (zoodles)
Red pepper slices
Cucumber slices
Sweet potatoes
Baked potato (with sour cream and butter)
Roasted potatoes
Corn on the cob
Corn
Cherry tomatoes
Homemade muffins with grated zucchini hidden in them
Smoothies with hidden veggies in them (kale, spinach)
LUNCH IDEAS
Earth’s Best Broccoli, Kale and Cheese Stuffed Bites
Chicken nuggets
Leftover dinner
Rotisserie chicken and rice
Scrambled eggs and breakfast sausage
Hard boiled eggs
Avocado slices (with lime, salt, pepper)
Turkey/ham and cheese roll-ups
Macaroni & cheese (with some added frozen peas)
Pasta with butter and grated cheese
Pasta salad
Tuna/egg salad sandwich
Grilled cheese
Pesto tortellini
PBJ/ Uncrustables
Sunbutter sandwich (with sliced banana)
Almond butter sandwich (with sliced banana)
Meatballs
Sausage
Chicken, cheese, black bean, refried bean quesadilla
Stuffed Bread (pepporoni, cheese, broccoli, spinach, sausage)
Chicken cutlet
Butternut squash ravioli
Mini ravioli with tomato sauce
Hotdog
Hamburger/Cheeseburger
Soup
Chili
Meatloaf
Pork
Taco meat with shredded cheese, sour cream, crunched up tortilla chips
Earth’s Best Veggie nuggets
Green Giant Veggie Tots
English muffin pizza
