No matter where your toddler spends their day—home, daycare, or with a caregiver—we’ve got the perfect lunch idea!
We have lots of age-specific toddler lunch ideas, including meatless and nut-free toddler lunch ideas.
Lunch Ideas for Toddlers
To build a healthy lunch for your toddler, we have a few tips!
- Include a source of whole grains, a source of protein, and at least one fruit or vegetable (or both) for color.
- If you’re sending lunches to daycare or school, use foods your toddler is used to at home to improve the chances they’ll eat their lunch.
- Cut food (especially fruits and vegetables) into fun shapes and sizes, research shows that children prefer foods in fun shapes! (1) Cutting foods into smaller bites can also help small children chew and swallow safely.
- Pay attention to food safety when packing lunches. Make sure to pack cold foods in insulated lunch boxes and with cold packs. Stainless steel containers keep your food at the perfect temperature and are dishwasher-safe, making cleanup a breeze. While they may cost a bit more upfront, they’re a smart investment—once your kids outgrow them, they’re perfect for storing leftovers.
We have practical examples using these tips in our list of toddler lunch ideas below!
Toddler lunch ideas for a 1-year-old
Our first three toddler lunch ideas are great for any age, but take the needs of a one-year-old into special consideration! These ideas feature softer textures and cut or cooked fruits and vegetables to make chewing safe and easy for your child.
1. Blended Overnight Oats with Peanut Butter and Fruit
Blended overnight oats are a great make-ahead option! Blend the peanut butter into the oats to get your child used to the flavor without the potential choking hazard of thick peanut butter. Then, top with cut berries or apples and send for lunch!
2. Egg salad and Veggie Sampler with Whole Grain Crackers
Egg salad can be made with plain Greek yogurt to boost the protein and calcium content! As a plus, you can avoid potential additives in traditional store-bought mayonnaise (or choose those without additives). As a side, include roasted vegetables like peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, broccoli, or cauliflower that your child can eat with their hands.
3. Brown Rice Fried Rice with Smashed Edamame
Homemade fried rice is a great way to include lots of whole grains and veggies in a meal! To add protein, include smashed edamame beans and scrambled eggs. If your family eats meat, shredded chicken is also a great addition.
Toddler lunch ideas for a 2-year-old
Our lunch ideas for a two-year-old put fun front and center! These ideas play with size, flavor, texture, and color to make lunchtime playful and exciting.
1. Teeny Tiny Sandwiches with Veggies
Make your child the cutest lunch ever with teeny tiny sandwiches! Cut a regular slice of whole wheat bread into smaller squares and fill with your favorite sandwich ingredients! Lately, we love hummus or guacamole with cheese and a slice of cucumber, but feel free to get creative with your favorite spreads and veggies!
2. Whole Grain Pancake Shapes with Greek Yogurt and Apples
Breakfast for lunch is always a great option! Make your favorite whole-grain pancakes into fun shapes or cut waffles into mini-squares, then freeze them for later. Make a dip to serve with them by softening peanut butter (or sun butter, depending on allergies at daycare or home) in the microwave and mixing it with Greek yogurt. This dip also pairs perfectly with apples!
3. Deconstructed Fajita Snack Box
If your family likes fajitas for dinner, send leftovers as a lunch for your toddler. Cut your tortillas into smaller triangles or strips and include your child’s favorite dips. Add a strip or two of your fajita meat and some roasted fajita vegetables for a quick and easy lunch!
Toddler lunch ideas for a 3-year-old
Your three-year-old might be looking for more independence in what they eat. Ask if they want to get involved in packing lunches or picking out what fruits and vegetables they want to eat and incorporate their choices into their lunches!
1. Whole Wheat Pita Pizza
Pita pizzas are a quick and easy lunch! Simply use a whole wheat pita as your “crust” and top with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and your favorite pizza toppings. Add a side of sliced vegetables or a quick fruit salad and you’re good to go!
2. Chicken Strips with Tzatziki and Baked Chickpeas
This is a great way to reuse common dinner ingredients. Cut cooked chicken breasts into smaller strips to make them easier for your child to eat. Serve with homemade Tzatziki sauce for a quick and easy serving of dairy and vegetables! For a fun texture boost, add some seasoned baked chickpeas to round out the dish.
3. Quinoa Salad with Chicken Meatballs and Raspberries
Quinoa is a tasty whole grain that complements a lot of fruits and vegetables. Add your favorite sliced vegetables to the quinoa while it cooks, and serve with mini meatballs and raspberries for a complete and tasty meal. Cook extra to make this tahini lemon herbed quinoa.
Meat-free or Nut-free Toddler Lunch Ideas
You may be wondering, what can I make my toddler eat for lunch without meat? Whether your family is vegan or vegetarian or you just want to eat less meat, try these swaps!
- Swap seasoned legumes, bean pasta, tofu, tempeh, or jackfruit (note that it does not provide protein) for chicken, beef, or pork. Try my easy tofu nugget recipe to get started!
- Boost plant-based protein in grain recipes by adding in flour like chickpea flour or quinoa flour.
- Chia seeds and hemp seeds are great sources of plant-based protein and healthy fats! Add them to smoothies or oatmeal or on top of parfaits.
If your child has a nut allergy, you can still use our recipe ideas above; just use our list of helpful swaps!
- For peanut butter or almond butter, substitute sunflower seed butter or even chickpea butter! Your child will still get great plant-based protein and fiber without the nuts. Try our tasty chickpea cookie dough recipe.
- Substitute seeds like pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or puffed quinoa in granola or trail mix.
Toddler Lunch Ideas: Even More Ideas!
If you want more ideas, tips, and guidance or portion sizes for your infant or toddler, check out my Meal Plans for Infants and Toddlers! I have healthy meal plans and snack ideas for children of all ages.
I hope my toddler lunch ideas help you make lunchtime fun and simple! Looking for expert guidance to ensure your child is meeting their nutritional needs, reducing exposure to environmental toxins, or addressing other pediatric nutrition concerns? With my extensive experience in nutrition counseling, I offer tailored solutions and a variety of services to support your family’s health. Book Pediatric Nutrition Counseling Today! And don’t miss out on all the fun and tasty adventures of the Super Crew books.
