Lunch ideas for toddlers in daycare include sandwiches, noodles, porridge, rice, pancakes, and soya and veggie-filled recipes.
When it comes to bringing the brightest smile on your little one’s face by preparing yummy meals for him/her, it is undoubtedly a difficult task. If you are a parent, then you can relate to this completely. Everyone says that the easy way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, but it goes the same with kids also. They will only frown if you prepare boring meals for them. There is even a chance that they will bring back home their lunchbox untouched. So if you’re searching for healthy yet yummy lunch ideas for toddlers, you’re at the correct place now.
Toddlers are very picky when it comes to eating. They will completely refuse to have anything that they don’t like. It’s not less than a challenge to prepare healthy and tasty meals for them according to their preferences. Let us help you in winning this challenge.
7 Tasty And Healthy Lunch Ideas For Toddlers In Daycare
Sorted with sandwich
Kid’s lunch and sandwich almost go hand in hand. Be it a chicken sandwich, egg sandwich, or a simple veggie sandwich, they are the most favorite ones for kids. The most amazing thing about sandwiches is you can experiment with the fillings according to your little one’s choices. Prepare it with boiled peas, sweet corn, seasonal vegetables, cheese spread, all of them are easy to make and yummy to taste. Sandwiches can be eaten quickly and conveniently.
Ingredients
Boiled chicken/eggs/ vegetables/ soya granules (sliced properly, 2-3 bread slices (white/brown), 1 teaspoon butter, 2 slices of cheese, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper to taste.
Procedure
Apply butter to the bread slices at first. After that, keep one cheese slice along with the chicken or veggies in between two pieces of bread. Season the filling with some salt and pepper. You can spread some mayonnaise also on the bread slices. Put the sandwiches into a sandwich griller and your yummy sandwiches are ready.
Porridge preference
A bowl of porridge will be the best option for your toddler’s lunch. It is easy to consume as it won’t take much time to finish. It’s easy to prepare also, can be made in less than one hour. Prepare it the night before and store it in the refrigerator also.
Ingredients
1 cup rice flour, half cup boiled chicken slices, 2-3 cups water, ginger-garlic paste (optional)
Procedure
You need to boil the rice flour for approximately ten minutes. Remember that you need to stir it continuously, otherwise the mixture will burn or accumulate into lumps. Sauté the boiled chicken slices with some salt and pepper and add them to the mixture. Cook it in a low flame. If your toddler doesn’t like the smell of ginger-garlic paste or it would become spicy for them, then skip adding it.
Noodle doodle
Every kid loves eating noodles, be it as their school tiffin, lunch, or dinner. But if you’re thinking that it can be an unhealthy option, then here comes a simple and healthy recipe for homemade noodles. Vermicelli, whole wheat noodles, and rice noodles are the healthier version of noodles. Prepare it with your choice of healthy veggies, chicken slices, or scrambled eggs which your kids refuse to have otherwise.
Ingredients
1 cup boiled noodles, chopped carrots, bell papers, beans, boiled chicken slices or scrambled eggs, salt and pepper to taste, 2 tablespoon oil.
Procedure
In a frying pan, heat the oil, add the vegetables, chicken slices, or scrambled eggs for few minutes, until they get pan-fried and become soft. Add boiled noodles and mix them well. Add salt and pepper according to your taste. Give a generous mix again. Serve it hot with some ketchup if your toddler likes it.
Colorful rice
This one is perfect for your toddler’s lunch box if he/she is now comfortable handling a spoon without any trouble. You can experiment with this rice dish by adding their favorites such as colorful veggies, chicken slices, soya chunks, dry fruits, scrambled eggs, etc. You can try ghee rice, egg rice, butter rice, coconut rice, and the like. This colorful rice will surely catch the attention of your little ones. It’s a wholesome meal, so no need to pack anything else.
Ingredients
Boiled veggies (boil with a little bit of salt to retain the color of the vegetables), boiled chicken slices/boiled soya chunks, scrambled eggs, salt and pepper to taste, 1 cup boiled rice, 2-3 tablespoon oil.
Procedure
Heat the oil in a pan first. After that, sauté the veggies and chicken slices in a low flame. Make sure that the color of the veggies retails the same. Don’t over fry it. Add scrambled eggs and mix them well. And finally add the boiled rice, salt, and pepper, give it a quick mix. Let it cook on low flame for about 2 minutes. Serve it hot after garnishing the rice with little coriander leaves on the top or you can pack it in the lunch box for your kids.
Savory pancakes
Pancakes are amongst one the most popular lunch ideas for toddlers at daycare centers. It’s the evergreen favorite of toddlers. Pancakes are super healthy and super tasty too. The toddlers can eat it easily without any trouble, pancakes are nutritious, mass-free. If you want a healthy one, then use ragi, jowar, oats, multigrain, or sweet potato to make the batter.
Ingredients
1/2 cup oats powder, 1 tablespoon honey, finely chopped strawberries, water, 1 tablespoon oil.
Procedure
In a big bowl, add the oats powder first. You can grind whole oats to make the powder. Add a little bit of honey and chopped strawberries. Add water as per the need. Mix it well and make sure that there are no lumps in the batter. Heat oil in a non-stick or frying pan. Pour some of the batters and make a round by using any spatula/spoon. Keep it on the low flame to cook for few minutes. Turn the pancake to cook the other side. Serve it hot or cool. You can drizzle some honey or chocolate sauce on the top of the pancakes to make them yummier.
Love from soya
As we all know, soybean is a rich source of protein, iron, and folate that is perfect for any vegetarian diet. The whole soybean provides a generous amount of amino acid, regulates bowel movement, and relieves constipation. You can make soya noodles, soy patties, soya rice, soya sandwiches, and many more by using soybean.
Ingredients
1 cup boiled soybeans, ½ cup mashed potatoes, pepper powder, salt to taste, ½ teaspoon turmeric powder, finely chopped onion and coriander leaves, 3 tablespoon oil or butter.
Procedure
In a bowl, mix all ingredients like boiled soybeans, mashed potato, pepper and turmeric powder, salt, chopped onion, and coriander. Mash them all to form a dough. After that divide it into equal portions. Shape them as per your choice. There are many cookie cutters available in the market, use them to give an interesting shape to the soy patty. Heat the pan and spread some butter/oil. Place the patties and roast both sides until they become golden brown. Serve it with ketchup or chutney for your toddlers.
Roll it up with veggies
Rolls are kids’ all-time favorite school tiffin. It’s easy and simple to make, but highly nutritious as it is filled up with lots of veggies. While the vegetables provide a lot of proteins, vitamins, and minerals, the roti/tortilla offers a good amount of carbs also and thus is a perfect lunch recipe.
Ingredients
For the roll, use any regular whole wheat roti or chapati, sliced vegetables such as carrots, beans, capsicums, cabbages, salt and pepper to taste, 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup, 2 tablespoons chopped garlic and onion, oil.
Procedure
Heat oil in a frying pan, add chopped garlic and onion, sauté it until the aroma comes. Then add sliced vegetables, sauté it in high flame for around 2-3 minutes. Make sure that the vegetables remain crunchy yet soft and juicy. Don’t overcook it. Add salt and pepper as per the taste. Give it a good mix. Toss the whole filling for another 2 minutes. You can add some tomato ketchup at this stage for a good flavor. Keep it aside to cool. For making the roll, place the roti/tortilla on a plate first, then place the veggie filling on the top of the roti. Roll the roti up around the vegetables. You can secure it by using food foil paper.
Conclusion
There is nothing to worry about preparing your toddler’s lunch for day-care. The above-mentioned ideas and recipes will help you definitely to cook healthy yet delicious meals for your little ones. And one thing we can assure that they are going to completely enjoy these meals.
References
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/lunch-box-tips
