10 Food Ideas for Picky Toddlers

My daughter is 2 1/2 years old. In the world of toddler-rearing, this means many things. But when it comes to food, it means she’s more likely to adorn her face with cheese than to actually eat a meal.

As parents, we learn quickly that kids oftentimes don’t care about the boring, mundane aspects of life; you know, things like eating, bathing, and sleeping. Fortunately for them, that’s why we’re here – to make sure they don’t become the malnourished, smelly insomniacs they so desperately try to be.

After watching countless meals thrown out – barely touched (if at all) – here are a few meals/snacks I’ve found that my picky eater will not only eat, but will ask for by name.

Photo Credit: Matt Preston

1. Hillshire Farms Lit’l Smokies – We heat these on the stove with some barbeque sauce and a little dijon mustard and Bailey loves them. We refrigerate the leftovers and she’ll eat them for every meal until they’re gone. Find them in the refrigerated section at the grocery store and watch for BOGO sales.

2. Alphabet Pasta with Meatballs – I won’t lie to you; I buy SpaghettiOs and ABC’s and 123’s with Meatballs in a can at the store. I think they’re tasty and my daughter gobbles them up. However, if you’re not a big fan of them or if you want something with fewer preservatives, buy some alphabet pasta at the store and make dinner for the whole family. Bailey likes to pick the ‘B’s out of her food so incorporating letters in her meals is always a hit.

3. Chicken Fries – Don’t ask me why, but toddlers seem to have an aversion to certain shapes when it comes to mealtime. My daughter won’t touch a chicken nugget regardless of the brand. Chicken fries, on the other hand, are like buried treasure. Look for them in the freezer section at the grocery store.

4. Barilla’s Veggie Pasta – Barilla has found a way to slip vegetables into their already delicious pasta – and it works! The great thing about it is that it’s a great meal for the whole family. My toddler may not have an affinity for pasta sauce yet, but she’ll eat the noodles tossed in some melted butter and sprinkled with seasonings.

5. Fresh Fruit – This will probably be hit or miss with your kids. Both of our kids love fresh fruit and will eat it until they’re red in the bottom. Strawberries (which are absolutely amazing right now), blueberries, bananas, raspberries, blackberries, melons… They’re a healthy addition to any meal and make a great snack any time.

6. Carrots (Chips or Matchsticks) – Again with the shapes! Our first few attempts at getting our daughter to try carrots failed miserably. We even took a page from Daniel Tiger’s book and sang a song to no avail. To our shock, all it took was a change in presentation and she loves them. She still won’t touch baby or whole carrots, but serve them up as chips or matchsticks and she can’t get enough.

7. Yoplait GO-GURT – I (and so my kids) have a long commute every day so it’s vital that I always have some car-friendly snacks on hand. GO-GURT is perfect for this – a simple tear off the top and it’s a tube of yogurt ready to eat with no mess. Plus, with the different flavors they offer, it’s easily my kid’s first choice when it comes to snack time. These reside permanently on the grocery list.

8. Fruit Pouches – Every brand calls them something different, but in our house they’re simply known as “pouches”. We usually get either the Del Monte Fruit Burst Squeezers (they also have fruit & veggie combinations), Mott’s Snack & Go Applesauce Pouches or GoGo Squeez Applesauce on the Go. These are also great for in the car and are another staple on our grocery list. They come in different flavors so don’t worry if your kids aren’t big fans of regular applesauce.

9. Capri Sun Super V – As far as juice boxes go, this is the one I opt for every time. It’s another easy way to get some fruits and veggies into your kids’ diets – and they love them! Now if they’d just do something about those pesky straws.

10. Dip – My kid is a dipper. She wants dip with everything. I find that the times when she’s fighting me on eating something, if I just offer that magic word, “dip”, she’ll pipe down and happily chomp away. Dip, in our house, is usually either Ranch dressing or ketchup (obviously depending on the food). If you have a dipper, find which ones your kid likes and offer them up at mealtime.

I’m sure we can all agree that kids are hard work. And when they’re little, it can be difficult to maintain the patience and creativity necessary to make things fun ALL THE TIME. Luckily, these food items help me when my reserves are low and I just need her to eat.

Oh, and if all else fails, you can always bribe them with marshmallows for taking X number of bites. But be warned, make sure they swallow before handing over the sugary goods.

What snacks/meals work for you? Add them in the comments!