Moms of Young Toddlers: What are their favorite foods?

[ChefElise]

Hi mommies! I have a 14-month-old daughter, and I am trying to expose her to a variety of healthy foods. So far, other than when she's sick or teething, she is a pretty adventurous eater. I would love to hear some ideas, though, of what your kids' favorite foods are for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, because I feel like I'm getting into a bit of a rut. Thanks for sharing your ideas!

[MaryMorph]

Nate loved edamame, chickpeas, yo-baby yogurt, cheese sticks, grape tomatoes cut into pieces, quartered grapes, mac-n-cheese, noodles of any sort, dates, graham crackers, and pirate booty snacks. The first two were his favorites, and he would eat them all of the time if he could!

Enjoy your good eater, and just offer her whatever you're eating!

mary jo

[NJMom]

When my boys were toddlers they really liked yo-baby yougurt, cheese (sticks, cubes or shapes) banannas, avocodos, berries, pirate booty, mini-pasta shapes. That's all I can recall for now.

[KathrynY]

Lately I've been making a real effort to have leftovers of our dinners available for DS, 22 months. His early bedtime and our work schedules make it impossible for all of us to eat dinner at the same time right now. Yesterday he ate leftover grilled sockeye salmon and green beans, cut into pieces. Sunday he had leftover mac & cheese and roasted broccoli, cut up. Almost any kind of leftover roasted veggie is also big hit, especially potatoes and sweet potatoes.

Some things that I keep around when our leftovers aren't suitable:
Quartered grape tomatoes
Cubes of seasoned/marinated tofu
Scrambled eggs, often with shredded cheese, cubed ham or cooked veggies thrown in
Sliced mushrooms
Tortellini or ravioli (cooked)
Sliced cheese
Toast, cheese toast, cinnamon toast
Soy nut butter sandwich pieces

Almost any fruit - apple cubes, melon slivers, blueberries, strawberries, grapes cubed, pear cubes, banana

From the freezer (thawed of course):
Veggie meatballs
Veggie burgers
Grilled chicken strips
Green peas
Carrot coins, quartered
Corn
Kashi waffles

ETA: Tomato soup warmed slightly and served in a sippy cup. With cubes of grilled cheese sandwich. :)

[potato_moose]

My youngest is 13 months old:

Fruit smoothies!

To make soups easier for her to eat, I mix in some brown rice (which I try to keep prepared in the freezer)

healthy muffins

puffed unsweetened brown rice (this is messy, tho!)

And everything that's already been listed :D

[granolagirl]

Just some ideas for you (from our 18 month old :) ):

FRUIT--loves any fruit. Berries and bananas are a favorite. Quartered grapes, mandarin oranges, pears, peaches, etc.
YoBaby
Spaghetti
Mac n cheese
turkey meatballs
corn
peas
string cheese
smoothies
toast
broccoli
cauliflower
blueberry waffles
pancakes
grilled cheese
quesadillas
lasagna
chicken
pizza
crackers
kix
cinnamon life
applesauce
smoothies

Hope that helps!

[marys]

I just wanted to add hummus to the list. Usually the pita gets thrown to the side and she just digs in with her fingers!

[ChefElise]

Those are some great ideas! Thanks! Each of you suggested 1-2 things that I haven't tried or had forgotten about.