Ask Design Mom: Lunch for a 2-year-old
Ask-Design-Mom-Question:
Hi Design Mom. I'm not a mom, but love your blog. I have a question that doesn't involve cute baby or mom stuff, but I'm thinking you will have some answers anyway, given your five kids. My 20 month old nephew is coming for a visit for a couple of weeks along with his mom and I was wondering about lunch ideas for him. His mom says she's getting tired of feeding him just bread or other carbs. Any ideas? Thanks, Christine
Design Mom Answer:
Fun question, Christine. I just know clever Design Mom Readers will have lots of suggestions on this one!
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Labels: ask design mom, kids
posted by Gabrielle of Design Mom at Wednesday, May 23, 2007
15 Comments:
I have several recipes posted on my blog, lifewiththebrocks.blogspot.com. I bet he'd like the Chicken Apple Balls (search the food labels.) You can make a batch & freeze them. Most of my soups freeze well, if you want to make ahead & freeze them in small quantities.
My son likes making mini-pizzas. You use flatbread (or even pitas), spread with sauce, and add whatever toppings he'll accept. I also make my son sandwiches and then cut them out with a cookie cutter in a fun shape (distract him with "toy" food"). Now that it's summer there's lots of fruit -- we like dipping fruit into plain yogurt. Good luck~
Carrie, your blog sounds like it has tons of great ideas, but when I tried to find it the link was missing from your profile... maybe its just my goofy browser?
My kids love to make a fruit pizza. It is lovely and tons of fun. It certainly seems like my kids will branch out and try more stuff when they are more invested in it. When they have helped me shop for, or make something, they are way more willing to give it a whirl. Besides, it helps me branch out from always getting the same fuji apples, kind of thing. I especially like to take them to a farmer's market, grocery stores can do a number on your wallet with all of the extras kids like.
Also, my kids love to dunk stuff. Try soups of all different kinds. I make toast and let them dunk away. So fun and they think it is quite a treat.
We like to do roll-up sandwiches at our house. You can make them with tortillas, deli meat, spreads, and veggies. Wrap tightly like a burrito, secure with toothpicks, and cut into sections. My son loves to make and eat these. You can also do them with whole wheat bread (cut off crust and flatten with a rolling pin) and peanut butter. Cheese quesadillas with black beans are another one of my son's favorites. We make them with whole wheat tortillas to up the nutritional value. Another fun idea is a make-your-own bento box full of fun finger foods like cheese cubes, berries, and tender cooked veggies. We'll add some fun dipping sauces (fruity yogurt for the fruit; plain yogurt with a bit of dry ranch dressing mix added in). I totally agree with everyone else that inlisting the help of the toddler with cooking will make him more likely to eat your creations later :) Have fun!
We use Turkey dogs and cut them half way up lengthwise with 8 legs. Then cut in little eye holes with a toothpick, and voila! A turkey dog octopus. My kids love this!
My very very fussy toddler (who also eats mostly bread and carbs) does love finger foods, especially when he can "play around" with them... tiny carrots, dollups of peanut butter, grapes... I guess he doesn't realize he's eating when he thinks he's playing! =)
Martha Stewart's Kids website has some really good and easy kid food ideas that are also visually appealing. My kids love them all the stuff we've tried.
as babies my kids loved (and still do) roasted carrots, potatoes, and yams -- just cube, toss with a bit of olive oil and a pinch of salt and roast in the oven until soft. pita bread wedges and hummus dip, bananas, strawberries, canned pears (no sugar added) with cottage cheese.
We love to do a "Snack Lunch" of my kids favorite snacks. Hard boiled egg, carrot sticks, apple slices, crackers, yogurt, raisins, cheese cubes etc. They love to think that they are getting all of their favorite snacks at one time!
Anything on a stick (pretzel sticks are fun for that age)! steamed carrots, bananas, diced cheese/apples.
My 2 year old loves to pop soy beans (edamame) out of their shell!
Grilled cheese sandwiches are a big hit. PB and thinly sliced apple rings on miniature bagels, too.
A fun mix of raisins, favorite cereal like cheerios or golden grahams, pb chips and banana chips is a great snack.
I like to feed my kids the following: ham and cheese sandwiches, Annies Organic Mac n Cheese, Egg Salad sandwiches, chicken quesadillas, yogurt with fruit on top, etc. I always serve each main item with a fruit and veggie too. They seem to dig it all!
My daughter loves fruit - she can eat a whole mango...and do a good job with the seed...and ask for mine.
I also love this cook book - First Meals (http://www.amazon.com/First-Meals-Expanded-Annabel-Karmel/dp/075660365X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-0113020-9679238?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1180032585&sr=8-1)
danimal yougurts with a straw punched in the top (don't remove the top) so mess free i love it!
My little girl doesn't like a lot of protein foods either. So to give it a boost, I'll make grilled sandwiches french toast style. Make your sandwich and dip both sides in egg mixed with a little milk. Cook like french toast. She loves grilled cheese made this way...
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