A list of 30 simple, easy, and fun 1 year old meals for toddlers including toddler breakfasts, toddler lunch ideas, and family-friendly dinner.
Mealtime with a one-year-old can be an exciting yet challenging experience! At this age, they are becoming more independent and developing their own food preferences. Finding the right balance between nutrition and toddler-approved tastes can be an adventure in itself.
In this blog post, we’re sharing a collection of meal ideas based on what my toddlers have actually eaten and enjoyed at this age. From hearty breakfasts to wholesome dinners, we’ve got you covered with easy meal ideas for your 1 year old!
But first, hi I’m Jessica! I’m a mom of three and love sharing my tips and tricks for motherhood and our baby and toddler meal ideas.
Follow along on Instagram @pineconesandpacifiers
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1 Year Old Toddler Meal Supplies
Lets face it, meal time with toddlers can get messy! While no special meal supplies are required for your toddler to eat, they can make the whole experience a whole lot easier and more enjoyable for everyone.
While raising three toddlers, i’ve gathered some favorite toddler meal supplies along the way! Here are some of our favorites:
Pillowfort Toddler Plates: these are some of our go-to plates and most of the 1 year old meals in this post are shown on these plates! They are affordable, durable, come in cute colors, and have held up through multiple years of use.
Silicone Suction Plates: another great option, especially if you 1 year old likes to dump or toss their plate on the ground; the suction is strong on these and I love the color options for these!
Silicone Bibs: a silicone bib is a must for toddlers! We love that these have a scoop at the bottom to collect dropped food. They are also extremely easy to clean.
Favorite Baby Food
While I do love feeding my babies and toddlers solids (BLW approach), there are times we use purees for convenience. Here are some of our favorites:
- Serenity Kids Pouches (Use JESSICA15 for 15% off)– we love that there are meat and veggie options and that they are made with super clean ingredients from small family farms! See my full review on Serenity Kids.
- Amara Baby Food (Use PANDP15 to save 15% – dry baby food packets that you can mix to your desired consistency! We love that they are made with unique superfood ingredients. See my full review on Amara Baby Food
1 Year Old Meals: Breakfasts
First up, I’m sharing some of our favorite 1 year old breakfast ideas like veggie scrambled eggs, smoothie bowls, and French toast naturally flavored with fruit! Keep it simple and wholesome for breakfast as it may be your toddler’s best meal of the day (in terms of how much they eat).
*If you are wondering “how do I get breakfast on the table before my toddler starts screaming”? My friend, Marla at Because I Said So, Baby, shares some AWESOME ideas for toddler busy boxes to keep your little one entertained!
1 Year Old Meal #1: Broccoli & Cheese Scrambled Eggs
Broccoli & Cheese Scrambled Eggs: eggs are such an easy place to throw in some added veggies. Make scrambled eggs like normal but stir in some chopped broccoli, peas, or carrots right before they are done cooking. Side of of grapes and strawberries.
Toddler Meal #2: Yogurt Pouch, fruit and cereal
Yogurt pouch: For young toddlers look for whole milk yogurt for extra healthy fat and calories. Served with dry cereal and mandarin oranges.
Toddler Meal #3: Strawberry Banana French Toast
Strawberry Banana French Toast: like regular French toast, but with smushed or pureed fruit added to the egg batter. This French toast is naturally sweetened and great for babies and toddlers. Get the recipe here: Easy Strawberry Banana French Toast Sticks
Toddler Meal Idea #4: Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal: plain oats cooked with water and then stirred with whole milk, shredded apples, cinnamon, chia seeds, and a dash of honey. For more easy oatmeal recipes check out this post: 8 Easy Toddler Oatmeal Recipes
Toddler Meal Idea #5: Yogurt Breakfast Bowl
Yogurt Breakfast Bowl: whole milk yogurt topped with all your toddler’s favorites. Try plain or vanilla yogurt with strawberries, bananas, peanut butter drizzle and chia seeds. For more breakfast bowl ideas check out this post: Toddler Breakfast Bowls: Fun Toddler Breakfast Idea
Toddler Meal #6: French Toast
French Toast is one of my favorite meals to make for my babies and young toddlers. It’s a great exposure to eggs and has some added protein from the eggs as well. It’s also very tender and easy to eat.
1 Year Old Meal #7: Peanut Butter Smoothie Bowl
Peanut Butter Smoothie Bowl: blend up your toddler’s favorite smoothie and make it a little thicker than normal. We love banana, frozen raspberries, yogurt and milk. Top with peanut butter, banana, and chia seeds.
1 Year Old Lunches
Lunch is my kid’s favorite meal of the day! I love making lunches look fun and colorful in hopes that my toddlers will eat a little more (and it often works). Here are some of our favorite lunch ideas perfect for 1 year olds:
Toddler Meal #8: Dr. Praeger’s Broccoli Littles
Dr. Praeger’s Broccoli Littles: if you’ve been here before, you know that we love the kids line from Dr. Praeger’s Brand, particularly the Broccoli Littles. They are cute shapes, tasty, and packed full of veggies. Side of cooked carrots and cucumbers with hummus, and strawberries.
1 Year Old Meal Idea #9: Mac & Cheese w/ Peas
Mac & Cheese w/ Peas: one of my biggest mom tips is to always mix in a veggie with your toddler’s mac and cheese. It’s an easy way to add veggies into their diet, and if you do it regularly, they likely wont even think twice about it. Some awesome ideas are peas, broccoli, carrots, or cauliflower (or riced cauliflower).
Toddler Meal Idea #10: Turkey Roll Ups
Turkey Roll Ups: for young toddlers I like to roll up lunch mean and then cut into smaller pieces so they are both appealing and easier to eat. Side of thinly sliced applies, cucumbers with hummus, and grapes.
Toddler Meal #11: Cauliflower Tots
Cauliflower Tots: we buy these frozen and cook them in the air fryer and it makes the perfect texture for young toddlers. Served with sides of turkey, cooked carrots, grapes, plantain chips, and ketchup for dipping. (This cool plate is from EZPZ: get it here!)
Toddler Meal Idea #12: Avocado Tuna Salad
Avocado Tuna Salad: mix tuna (we like lemon pepper flavor) with avocado and season with a little salt and pepper. I like to serve with crackers and pretzel chips for dipping and a side of mandarin orange. You can also use shredded chicken if your toddler doesn’t like tuna.
1 Year Old Meal #13: Baked Beans
Baked Beans: baked beans are one of my toddlers’ favorite foods and I always forget about them! They are quick, easy, and a great source of protein. Side of Dr. Praeger’s Kale Littles and mandarin oranges.
Toddler Meal #14: Cheese Crisp
Cheese Crisp: cheese crisp or quesadilla with sour cream for dipping and sides of avocado with seal salt, banana, and diced tomatoes.
Toddler Meal Idea #15: Turkey & Cheese Pinwheels
Turkey & Cheese Pinwheels: lay out a tortilla and spread with shredded cheese, cook on the stove top or microwave oven until cheese is melted, add turkey, roll up tightly and cut into strips or pinwheels. Side of avocado, strawberries, and grapes.
1 Year Old Meal #16: Pulled Rotisserie Chicken
Pulled Rotisserie Chicken: I grab a rotisserie chicken most days when I grocery shop and its perfect for quick and easy lunches for the whole family! For my toddlers I shred the chicken and serve with ketchup for dipping. Side of black beans, thin sliced carrots with ranch, and grapes.
Toddler Meal #17: Naan Bread Pizza
Pizza made on Naan bread is a favorite for my toddlers and preschoolers! It’s so easy to customize toppings based on your little one’s favorites and also a great way to add in some veggies at lunch time. Side of pineapple and mozarella cheese.
Toddler Meal Idea #18: Avocado Toast
Avocado Toast: lunch doesn’t have to be difficult, avocado toast is one of my boys’ favorite meals and its super easy and nutritions. Side of extra avocado and grapes.
1 Year Old Meal Idea #19: Ham & Cheese Snack Plate
Ham & Cheese Snack Plate: snack plates are one of my favorite lunches because you can basically use whatever you have left in the fridge and toddlers love them! We had ham, cheese, cucumber with hummus, tomatoes, grapes, and olives. (This cool plate is from EZPZ: get it here!)
1 Year Old Dinners
Most of the time my toddlers eat what we eat for dinner so these meals are also family-friendly! Below is how I modify them for my toddlers.
Toddler Meal Idea #20: Avocado Quesadilla
Avocado Quesadilla: like a cheese quesadilla, but made with avocado inside instead. This is a great option if you are trying to avoid dairy or just want to mix it up from the normal cheese quesadilla. Side of black beans and corn and gooseberries.
1 Year Old Meal #21: Chicken Strips
Chicken Strips: I love making chicken strips in the air fryer so they are nice and crispy but don’t take forever to make! For my 1 year old I cut them up into smaller pieces so they are easier for him to eat. Side of ketchup for dipping, roasted broccoli, and sweet potato fries.
Toddler Meal #22: Deconstructed Fajitas
Deconstructed Fajitas: when the family has fajitas I make a deconstructed version for my 1 year old. Mini cheese crisp, bell peppers, shredded chicken, black beans, and guacamole.
1 Year Old Meal Idea #22: Orange Chicken Rice Bowl
Orange Chicken Rice Bowl: when the family has orange chicken, I make it toddler friendly by adding extra veggies and skipping the soy sauce (we use coconut aminos instead). Orange chicken, broccoli, carrots, edamame, and sticky rice with coconut aminos.
Toddler Meal Idea #23: Sheet Pan Chicken & Veggies
Sheet Pan Chicken & Veggies: cook chicken breast and your family’s favorite veggies and starches on a sheet pan for a quick and easy dinner idea. We had chicken, golden potatoes, carrots, and red bell pepper.
Toddler Meal Idea #24: Grilled Cheese & Soup
Grilled Cheese & Soup: grilled cheese cut into strips for easy dipping, broccoli cheese soup and a side of tomatoes.
1 Year Old Meal Idea #25: KidFresh Pizza
KidFresh Pizza: on one of those nights where we have a different meal than my toddlers, my go to is KidFresh Pizza (they are made just for kids and are made with veggies!). Side of cooked carrots and avocado.
Toddler Meal #26: Deconstructed Cobb Salad
Deconstructed Cobb Salad: like a big cobb salad, but without the lettuce. Turkey, avocado, bacon, boiled eggs, tomato, mozzarella, cucumber, and ranch dressing.
1 Year Old Meal #27: Deconstructed Hamburger
Deconstructed Hamburger: if your toddler won’t eat a hamburger with a bun, try a deconstructed version. Hamburger patty or broken up hamburger, shredded or sliced cheese, avocado, and tomato.
Toddler Meal Idea #28: Pesto Fish
Pesto Fish: white fish cooked with pesto on top (or if your toddler doesn’t like pesto, try their favorite sauce or seasoning). Side of mashed cauliflower and cheese and broccoli.
Toddler Meal #29: Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage
Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage: chicken sausage cooked on a sheet pan along with potatoes and your favorite veggies (orange and yellow carrots + broccoli).
Toddler Meal Idea #30: Meatballs
Meatballs: most meat can be a little tough for toddlers, but meatballs are a great way to add extra iron into your toddler’s diet. We serve with healthy sides like broccoli, carrots, bell pepper, and sweet potato fries.
Follow along on Instagram @pineconesandpacifiers
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