A list of 6 fun toddler snack plate ideas perfect to use on your weekly food rotation. Great for baby led weaning, toddlers, and picky eaters!
I have noticed that my boys eat much better at lunch time when I serve lunch “snack plate” style. This means instead of one big main course (like a sandwich), I serve smaller portions of a variety of foods (normally about 6 foods).
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What Foods to Choose?
I try to choose that are relatively healthy, hearty, and mostly foods they already love. It’s also a great way to introduce new foods or foods they haven’t liked so much in the past since there should be a variety of ‘safe foods’ already on their plate.
Here are some of their favorites from each food group, but almost anything goes in your toddler’s snack plate. Serve the foods they like or the foods that your family is already eating at meal time.
- Protein: lunch meat, left over meat, eggs, shredded cheese, string cheese, sliced cheese
- Fruit: berries, grapes (quartered or halved), mandarin oranges, banana
- Veggies: cooked or thinly sliced carrots, cucumber, peas, tomato, olives
- Healthy fats: avocado, hummus, dips
- Snacks: crackers, pretzels, raisins, cereal, plantain chips
Snack Plate Mini Play Mat
Another magic trick that i’ve found recently is the EZPZ Mini Play Mat! It makes the perfect serving platter and serving size for my boys’ lunches. The EZPZ Mini Play Mat has 6 divided sections in the shape of a flower. All of the sections are roughly equal size with the center being just slightly larger. It’s made of food-grade silicone, suctions to your table, and its dishwasher safe (all huge wins for me)!
Make it Colorful
Another tip that makes my boys eat a little better at meal time is to make their plates look colorful, fun, and appealing! Different colored foods generally offer different nutritional benefits, its more appealing to look at, and it also challenges me to try and serve them a variety of foods and food groups at each meal; for example green food is normally veggies or fruit!
Toddler Snack Plate Lunch Ideas
- Pretzel Chips & Hummus – serve a hearty scoop of hummus or whatever dip your toddlers prefer (peanut butter, cream cheese, ect.) with pretzel chips for dipping. Sides of thinly sliced raw carrots or cooked carrots, avocado, shredded cheddar cheese, strawberries, and Annie’s Homegrown bunny crackers.
- Veggies Made Great Egg Frittata – we love using Veggie’s Made Great frittatas for a quick and easy meal ideas, or make your own egg muffins with your favorite toppings. Sides of strawberries, whole milk string cheese, cheese crackers, peas, and raisins.
- Turkey Lunch Meat – lunch meat or shredded chicken breast with sides of whole milk string cheese, cheerios, bananas, peas and carrots, and grapes (be sure to quarter for babies or younger toddlers).
- Avocado with EBB Seasoning – myself and my boys have been obsessed with “Everything But the Bagel” aka EBB seasoning lately. They love it on avocado to add some extra flavor and texture. Sides of grapes, salami, mini cucumber, cheddar cheese, and strawberries.
- Meat & Cheese – meat, cheese, and crackers (not pictured, but I often include them) make a great little DIY lunchable for your kids. Try sides of cucumber and hummus for dipping, tomatoes, grapes, and olives.
- Veggie Tots – we love veggie tots like these Cauliflower Tots from Green Giant. I normally heat them un in the air fryer at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes to make them perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Sides of ketchup for dipping, turkey lunch meat, cooked carrots, grapes, and plantain chips.
Summary Fun Toddler Snack Plate Meal Ideas
Here are 6 fun toddler snack plate meal ideas to help get you through the week!
- Pretzel Chips & Hummus, carrots, avocado, shredded cheddar cheese, strawberries, crackers
- Veggie’s Made Great frittata, strawberries, string cheese, cheese crackers, peas, and raisins
- Turkey Lunch Meat, string cheese, cheerios, bananas, peas and carrots, and grapes
- Avocado, grapes, salami, mini cucumber, cheddar cheese, and strawberries.
- Meat & Cheese, cucumber and hummus, tomatoes, grapes, and olives
- Green Giant Cauliflower Tots, turkey lunch meat, cooked carrots, grapes, and plantain chips
Thanks for stopping by! Which one of these would your toddler reach for first? Let me know in the comments below.
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