https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:48:30 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1094180 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 08:17:16 +0000 regberadaisy 1094180@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: just wanted to share what I made her last night. I was flying solo and we had no leftovers.<br /> I chopped up some yams really small and threw them in the oven at 420F with some evoo, garlic salt and pepper. If you do 1" cubes they should be done around 30 minutes. While that was going I took some pork loin (I was going to make roasted pork loin later for DH &amp;I) and sliced two really thin pieces. Dipped in egg then breaded with a panko/seasoned bread crumb. I Pan seared that and because it was so thin took no time. I also made a small side of egg noodles with canned tomatoes and frozen peas/carrots/corn. </p> <p>Home at 5, got LO situated with a snack, dinner on table for her by 6. Some frozen blueberries for dessert. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092520 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 12:21:31 +0000 Freckles 1092520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Aww, i wouldn't be embarrassed by what you feed her! I understand the time crunch too. I think the key for me is making sure her meals are ready the night before.</p> <p>When i'm in a rush:<br /> - rice, nori, eggs<br /> - grilled cheese<br /> - pasta with veggies</p> <p>I'll also steam some veggies, as it really only takes 10-15 minutes. </p> <p>@locavore_mama: LO is like this too! She loves holding the actual drumstick/wing/rib. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092505 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 12:14:17 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1092505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>when i'm short on time these are my go to meals:<br /> - ling ling dumplings from costco<br /> - frozen fish sticks from trader joe's<br /> - mini quiches (i usually freeze a big batch)<br /> - pizza<br /> - pasta with red sauce<br /> - rice (we always have it in the rice cooker) immersed with chicken soup/chicken broth.<br /> - chicken nuggets </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092479 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 12:09:00 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1092479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: Haha, that was more my point too, maybe try one part of the egg first. I thought more allergies came from the yolk which is why I suggested starting with just the white. </p> <p>@locavore_mama: Yes, we have done this too, she loves ribs off the bone like her dad! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092194 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:51:49 +0000 regberadaisy 1092194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DH works till 9 three nights a week. So on those nights I'm left scrambling to get LO situated, give her a snack and prep dinner in an hour.</p> <p>My tips are leftovers. On nights there are no leftovers I usually pan sear some fish for her really quickly, frozen peas or beans or steamed broccoli or edemame. She loves and will eat any meat pound thin and breaded in panko. So that's usually a fall back of mine on those nights.<br /> Shrimp is also a really quick easy one to cook and has protein.</p> <p>ALso on the meat front I Have discovered LO will eat meat now if I give it to her in whole form. Give her a sliver of pork chip meat, no thanks. Give her the whole pork chop she goes to town. Give her strips off a chicken thigh, no thanks. Give her the whole chicken thigh, she chowed down 3 thighs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092185 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:49:30 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 1092185@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: I'm not sure I'm much help, but I definitely understand the time crunch of getting home and having to feed the LO. We just give her some of what we're eating so that we aren't short order cooks. She's more interested in what's on our plates anyway ;-) She'll eat meat if she can dip it in something, and seafood if she can put some lemon juice on it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092180 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:48:26 +0000 mediagirl 1092180@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: I usually associate blood in the diaper with an allergy before just a messy one. I would try it again and see if you have the same reaction!</p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: that's funny, I was going to suggest just the yolk. :) Maybe try one then the other! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092171 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:44:54 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1092171@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: I wouldn't count it as an allergy just yet. Maybe try just plain egg whites first? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092169 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:44:27 +0000 GrapeCrush 1092169@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Dumplings. I bought a bunch and froze them and would make them when we were eating something he couldn't have. So simple to reheat them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092164 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:44:01 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1092164@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bpcmarj: I just did homemade spaghetti-ohs. I found a box of pasta that was little alphabet shapes. I made about half a box and a jar of good tomato sauce. I froze in little glass bowls and pull one out with she needs dinner. They get a bit dry so add a lot of sauce! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092159 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:42:44 +0000 sorrycharlie 1092159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: @T.H.O.U.: question - dh made her some scrambled eggs recently with a pinch of garlic (she's eaten garlic mashed potatoes, so I know that wasn't the issue) that coincided with a really bad diaper the next day. would that indicate an egg allergy? she's still bf, and she never reacts if I have egg products - or if she eats something with egg in it. she INHALED the egg..loved it!</p> <p>@bpcmarj: she loves herself some cheese. I put constipation just because if I'm not careful to vary her diet it happens - the doctor wants her on daily miralax anyway, to make sure she doesn't avoid going because she thinks it'll hurt. </p> <p>--</p> <p>I will take any and all recipes y'all have! :) I'm a super picky eater so I'm trying hard to make sure to vary her diet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092157 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:41:38 +0000 mediagirl 1092157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bpcmarj: and frozen pancakes - Eggo or Aunt Jemima, if I can find them. She LOVES them. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092155 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:40:31 +0000 GrapeCrush 1092155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'll make DS a 'quesadilla' when I need to make something quick. I put lunch meat in it with cheese, or avocados and beans. I use the small flour tortilla shells. He loves them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092154 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:39:47 +0000 bpcmarj 1092154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: Great quiche minds think alike, my friend :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092151 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:38:37 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1092151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: Eggs are one of her favorite meals too with a sausage. Surprinsingly she doesn't like scrambled eggs but likes they over hard/fried. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092150 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:38:34 +0000 bpcmarj 1092150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have been giving P quiche for dinner...though the one I make is LOADED with cheese so may not be food for O if she is having constipation issues. It is just egg, cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, and spinach.</p> <p>To be honest, P's dinner last night was a few frozen mini pancakes (store bought) and about a million frozen peas (which is now her favorite and she will beg and beg for them until I give her more). I have a recipe for homemade spaghettios, and bought all the stuff, but I haven't gotten it together to actually make them. I plan on freezing small portions of it (somehow). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092145 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:37:10 +0000 mediagirl 1092145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: @T.H.O.U.: one of M's favorite things right now is quesadilla! What meats have you tried? We have had really good success with pork tenderloin. I think because it's more tender and juicy than steak or chickeN?</p> <p>We tried taco seasoning once and she made the worst face and wouldn't eat it. It was too spicy for her. We have to make her meals pretty mild. </p> <p>Have you tried quiche? You can make crustless quiches in mini muffin pans, freeze them and they're an easy snack or meal. I put any veggie in them but swiss and spinach is a staple in our house. Frozen spinach works fine. :)</p> <p>M's meals look like this:<br /> Breakfast things: Eggs and breakfast sausage (patties) or yogurt or oatmeal. I help her eat the oatmeal and yogurt when she lets me. Pancakes, bagels with cream cheese (she licks the cream cheese off), English muffin with butter. Fruit - any and all. I cut apples into thin slices for her to eat or she eats it whole if I'm with her. I find blueberries help her bowels move... :)</p> <p>Lunch and Dinner things: Meat, veggie, fruit and either another veggie, a starch (like potato cubes) or crackers.<br /> Preferred veggies: peas (frozen or steamed), green beans, broccoli, carrots. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092144 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:37:02 +0000 kiddosc 1092144@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say let her try some spicy, I'm surprised what E will eat sometimes. E usually eats our leftovers from the night before. DH and I don't eat until later, so I never cook until after E goes to bed. </p> <p>He really likes meatloaf, sweet potatoes, black beans, spaghetti with meatsauce (I put mushrooms and zucchini into the sauce and he eats it up, never noticing). E is on a veggie strike, so I've gone back to giving him pouches of veggie baby food and he sucks those down like no one's business. He thinks it's a treat and I'm happy he's getting some veggies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092142 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:36:48 +0000 sorrycharlie 1092142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>part of my issue is the guilt that I'm not varying her "entree" - I make sure she gets plenty of water and a vegetable with each dinnertime meal, but I was worried that constant pasta type dinners was a little lame. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092140 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:35:38 +0000 sorrycharlie 1092140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: I was worried about spicy because she seems to react to some foods poorly - we have a lot of "belly issues" in my family. but maybe it's worth a shot? I mean, if she reacts poorly then I just cross it off the list, right?</p> <p>@locavore_mama: we get home at 6..lol. ugh. last night, I called when we left (about a 30m ride) and my husband steamed mixed veggies and spinach/cheese ravioli with red sauce for her. it's only an issue two nights each week - and I think one of the nights, my mom is going to watch her til my husband gets home. So I'd like an easier meal for him, too. and part of the issue is I'm just becoming so much lazier, I want to encourage myself to whip up some better things! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092139 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:35:22 +0000 jmarionsmith 1092139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>you could make a batch of lasagna one weekend and freeze it in toddler portions. then just thaw as needed. i keep planning on doing this along with muffin tin meat loaves (but you're lo will probably not love that if she doesn't like meat.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092131 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:34:07 +0000 LuLu Mom 1092131@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: you beat me to the meatballs, my DD loves them too! A lot of time I jsut grill up a chicken breast and she eats taht for a couple days, but she wants everythign on our plate too. I gave her chili this weekend even though I was scared it would be too spicy and she ate it up not even noticing the peppers! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092125 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:32:08 +0000 regberadaisy 1092125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How much time from the minute you get home till dinnertime? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092121 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:31:12 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1092121@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: Even just making the ground beef with salsa. My LO actually Loves spicy foods. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092119 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:29:55 +0000 sorrycharlie 1092119@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: I've never tried a quesadilla with her, good idea!</p> <p>she was totally freaking out when we had tacos the other night, because she wants whatever is on our plates (even if she then won't EAT it). but it was really spicy - I bought the wrong mix - so I didn't feel comfortable giving it to her, maybe I should let her try some?</p> <p>meatloaf is a good one. I should try that! </p> <p>I forgot to add that I recently bought Earth's Best frozen meatballs and she goes nuts for them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092104 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:25:43 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1092104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about quesadillas? Can you sneak meat in there? </p> <p>For some reason at that age, my daughter would really just eat ground beef but she would eat it as taco meat, as meat loaf, or in spaghetti. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-seeking-simple-toddler-meals#post-1092101 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:24:13 +0000 sorrycharlie 1092101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my work hours have recently changed, which has led me to making DD (1 year next week) really quick, easy meals for dinner. </p> <p>she gets a steamed veggie, entree, and if she's still hungry, a small snack. </p> <p>her entree is embarrassing - usually some type of pasta, ravioli with cheese and spinach, ravioli with carrots and chicken, etc. </p> <p>she won't eat meat unless i sneak it into her raviolis.</p> <p>she comes with me to work, so when we get home we don't have much time to really cook something extravagant. I am looking for your best ideas for quick, healthy (or not ;) ) foods that a "picky" toddler will eat!</p> <p>ETA - she also gets constipated very easily (hasn't had banana in months!) and seems to be sensitive to certain veggies - broccoli had her up all night with gas pain last week. </p>