Toddler Meal Ideas: Feeding Baby Part II
PURPLE BUBBLE- SMOCKED AUCTIONS | PINK BOW | SMALL PINK BOWS
In this post I’m sharing all the food Kennedy likes to eat and some easy toddler meal ideas! I’m also sharing all my favorite products for feeding time from buybuyBABY!
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*This post is in partnership with buybuyBABY, a brand I love. All opinions here are my own.
I’ve teamed up with buybuyBABY to share meals I feed Kennedy and products I love for feeding time. One of my favorite things I enjoy doing is making meals for Kennedy and bonding in the kitchen. I always make it a point to sit down with her each meal, and I really use it as a great way to bond! Feeding time should be fun, comfortable and easy! Today I’m sharing some background on what I did to give my baby the best start on eating and some tips. I’m also sharing what she usually eats now that she is a toddler. Also, August is National Nursing and Feeding Month. This month is to help educate parents and caregivers about the importance of nutrition for their baby’s and children. Nutrition from the very beginning really sets the foundation for so many things in your child’s life. I’m going to also share all the amazing brands I love for feeding time with my daughter!
Before Kennedy was born, my plan was to breastfeed exclusively. Things didn’t go exactly as planned for the birth or my for feeding plan. But that’s okay, because it all worked out in the end! I explain in this Nursing Post what I did for feeding her when she was a newborn. When Kennedy was starting to eat solids, I took it upon myself to learn as much as I could about nutrition and had so much fun preparing each of her meals. I have a post on foods I would feed Kennedy when she was an infant in my Feeding Baby Part I post. When she first started eating purees, I would make all her baby food at home with my Beaba baby food maker and store them in pre-portioned and freezer safe silicone containers. I used these soft silicone spoons, which are great starter spoons and are gentle on baby’s gums and teeth. From the very beginning, I introduced a variety of vegetables, dairy products (yogurt), meats (mainly steak and chicken), and fruit. Since then, Kennedy has been a great eater and she has been exposed to lots of different foods! When she started eating more solids a couple months before her 1st birthday, is when I introduced meats. She loves steak, salmon (mostly all fish), and chicken! I would offer them in small pieces when she was really little. Those protein rich foods offer so much nutrition and iron, which small children need!
For food storage, I tried a variety of different products and loved the ones from Beaba! This stacked storage container can easily be thrown in my bag and keeps the snacks won’t from going bad. Also, the top section is a funnel which can be used for formula! I have found it very useful for running my daily errands along with providing Kennedy a healthy alternative when out to eat at restaurants. Also, these food storage containers are great for baby food or snacks on-the-go when your little one is older! I try my best to avoid foods high in saturated fats and sugar. I don’t fully limit her from sweets, but we offer it on certain occasions. I think everything in moderation is good for children!
I get asked a lot what I bring when I go out to eat at restaurants with Kennedy! I absolutely LOVE the EzPz place mats and never leave my house without them in my diaper bag!! The rubber material of the mat sticks firmly to tables or highchairs! It suctions to the table and keeps her food contained. I also love how it makes eating out not so messy and more sanitary. It’s easy for Kennedy to eat off this place mat and I can easily wipe it clean when she is done! I love the mini mat for going out, but use all different ones when I’m at home!
The high chair we have is the 4Moms High Chair in white/grey! It is hands down the BEST high chair we have tried!!! It’s so great for many reasons. First, it is very sturdy and doesn’t easily tip over. Other high chairs are lightweight, and can fall over on top of a baby when they pull on it. One feature that I love the most is its magnetic tray! You can get the 4Moms magnetic plates and bowls set, which sticks to the tray. It prevents your baby from swiping off their plate or bowl during feedings. It is easy to take the tray on and off with just one hand because it is magnetic too. You don’t have to struggle with lining anything up! The height of the high chair is also adjustable. There is also a snap-on top tray, which is dishwasher safe and easily cleaned by a simple wipe! The white/ grey color matches perfectly with my decor and looks so clean and nice! This high chair has been very easy to keep clean. It is on the pricey side, but it is worth every penny and a great investment for future children!
Favorite Foods:
Vegetables: Avocado, broccoli, squash, peas, corn, cauliflower, and tomatoes
Fruit: Watermelon, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, mango, grapes, and banana
Meat + Fish: Steak, salmon, tuna, chicken, and carnitas
Dairy: 1% Organic Milk, Greek Yogurt, Whole Milk Yogurt
Snacks She Loves: Brown Rice Crisps (you can find them at Costco), skinny popcorn, grapes (cut in half), cheese sticks, apple sauce pouch, apples thinly sliced, dried fruit, snap peas
Breakfast Ideas:
– Kodiak Cake pancakes with light syrup or agave to dip!
– Flax Seed Oatmeal with a splash of milk mixed in
-Scrambled egg with some cheese melted on top- Cheesy Eggs!
-Whole wheat toast with a nut spread and sliced bananas
– Greek Yogurt with berries mixed in
Lunch Ideas:
– Whole wheat quesadilla with mild salsa or avocado mashed to dip!
-Pasta salad with ground turkey meat
-Hummus and pita bread
-PB & J with a drizzle of honey
– Turkey deli meat (nitrate free) with a cheese stick, apple sauce and grapes
Dinner Ideas:
-Grilled Cheese Roll-Up-
-Protein with sides of rice and veggies-
-Mexican Dinner-
Protein: grilled or shredded chicken (lightly seasoned) and black beans. I add a carb such as corn tortilla chips with melted cheese on top and avocado dip or I do Mexican rice with peas mixed in. Side of veggies such as corn or a steamed veggie mix
-Italian Dinner-
Bowtie Pasta with some butter and parmesan cheese on top! You can mix in ground turkey with Italian seasoning or Italian flavored sausage for protein
-Salmon Favorite-
My favorite dinner is salmon and so is Kennedy’s! Here is a dinner she loves:
Salmon baked in the oven and wrapped in foil at 425 for 20 min. Add a small amount of butter, olive oil and seasoning on top. I either do brown rice or seasoned rosemary potatoes, with a side of steamed veggies