5 Must-Make Toddler-Friendly Dinners from Michelle Piccolo of Feeding Our Toddlers

If you happen to’ve obtained little eaters round your desk, be it toddlers or greater kiddos, I can inform you from expertise that Michelle Piccolo is somebody you wish to comply with. Quickly after her son Jack started consuming solids, Michelle targeted her cooking efforts on creating healthful meals for her little eater that had been simple, flavorful, and enjoyable. And it wasn’t lengthy after that she began her meals weblog, Feeding Our Toddlers, to share her dinner concepts with different mother and father.

She’s a whiz at developing with easy, toddler-friendly fare that doesn’t essentially really feel like “child meals” and likewise occurs to pack in a serving to or two of veggies and healthful elements.

Right here Michelle shares per week of toddler-friendly dinners and tells us how she does it.

These are simple and scrumptious dinner concepts good for toddlers (and their grown-ups, too!). This plan options meals many toddlers love (howdy, pasta!), plus loads of healthful elements and plenty of veggies. I make a degree to fit in dinners that may depart us with leftovers that may be served once more or repurposed later within the week, as a result of getting a couple of meal from a cooking session is a large win.

This pesto is filled with taste and prepared in minutes! I needed to create one thing healthful and hearty, so I exploit spinach and pumpkin seeds. I prefer to serve it over a chickpea or whole-wheat pasta with an additional drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.

You’ll most probably have leftover pesto, which I like to make use of unfold in grilled cheese sandwiches, tossed with veggies, or with meatballs. And since this pesto is nut-free you possibly can incorporate it in a college lunch, too! For storing leftovers, I place in a jar topped with a little bit olive oil within the fridge (or you too can freeze, too).

Get the recipe: Spinach Pumpkin Seed Pesto

Meatballs are all the time successful at our home. Quite than simply utilizing typical meatball elements, I make the most of a bunch of goodies in my fridge, like leftover brown rice and veggies. I typically use chopped spinach and carrots, however any veggies you will have within the fridge are honest sport. Simply blitz them within the meals processor in order that they’re not so chunky within the meatball.

The top result’s a scrumptious, power-packed meatball that may be simply warmed up on the range earlier than serving. Prime with crimson sauce or my spinach pumpkin seed pesto, and even depart plain. You possibly can serve with avocado, roasted veggies, polenta … no matter sides the household loves.

Get the recipe: Turkey and Brown Rice Meatballs

I’ve a batch of roasted broccoli in my fridge always, utilizing it for a ton of various dishes. This one is a toddler-friendly spin on the traditional orecchiette with pork sausage and broccoli rabe recipe. For this meal, I used Banza chickpea shells, cooked rooster sausage (cuts down on prep and is lighter than conventional pork sausage), and roasted broccoli. With a couple of different pantry and fridge staples, you will have a super-yummy meal that’s prepared by the point the pasta is finished cooking.

Leftovers will be saved within the fridge and warmed up in a pot with a little bit additional butter and rooster inventory.

Get the recipe: Pasta with Broccoli and Chicken Sausage

I made these sliders for the primary time at a BBQ a couple of summers in the past and so they had been a bit hit with all the youngsters. They’re the proper dimension for small palms, and it’s a good way to get a little bit little bit of greens of their meal with the addition of spinach blended in.

I prefer to high the burgers with provolone cheese and mashed avocado for added creaminess, however you would assemble with any of your favourite toppings.

Get the recipe: Beef and Spinach Sliders

When you’ve got a fish stick-lover in your own home, this can be a easy technique to make a contemporary model that your toddler is certain to LOVE. It’s a super-easy recipe and makes for an ideal meal served with sides like corn on the cob, avocado, brown rice, or roasted candy potatoes.

Get the recipe: Fluke Fish Sticks

Thanks a lot, Michelle! Be sure you comply with Michelle on the web and Instagram for extra kid-friendly recipes and enjoyable tips about feeding toddlers.

Meal planning isn’t all the time simple — particularly for those who’re simply getting began. However we’re agency believers that it’s the key to stress-free weeknight dinners. We wish to show you how to discover inspiration and ease a few of the ache factors that include getting dinner on the desk night time after night time, whether or not you’re cooking one or a household of 4 or 5. Each week we share a brand new meal plan answer particularly personalized for you from reader requests or from a visitor contributor, for Subsequent Week’s Meal Plan!