Toddler lunch ideas your little one will actually eat

Liven up your toddler’s sandwiches by cutting them into fun shapes, making pinwheels (by spreading the bread and then rolling it up and cutting into slices), or mixing and matching different coloured breads to make a chessboard-style sandwich. Try to include some form of protein – ham, chicken, cheese, tuna – as it will help your child feel fuller.

Slice up pieces of cheese (you can wrap them in foil to make them fun for your toddler to unwrap) or put a pre-wrapped cheese in, like Babybel or Cheestring.

A small bunch of seedless grapes is perfect for lunchboxes because they’re small and easy for your toddler to eat – no peeling necessary. They’re also high in fibre, so great for preventing constipation. For younger children, be sure to cut up the grapes into halves or quarters to prevent choking.

Packed with oats, flapjacks are a great energy boost to add to your little one’s lunchbox. Why not try making your own (and save money on the shop bought variety)? These superseed flapjacks are quick and easy to make (and even quicker to disappear!)

A great option for little tummies, get creative with sweet or savory mini muffins for your tot.  They’re bound to love these ruby red mini muffins by the team at Ella’s Kitchen, made from beetroot and feta, or try spinach and cheese for a more classic muffin.

Another healthy alternative to sugary snacks, why not add some homemade cookies to your tot’s lunchbox? These cranberry and hazenut oat cookies are super easy to make (depending on the nursery school rules, you might want to bake without the hazelnuts). What’s more, why not get your little one in the kitchen with you and bake these at the weekend?

Slice up carrots, cucumber, pepper and celery for your toddler to nibble on. You could also include a mini pot of houmous or cream cheese for him to dip them in.

Leftovers can work well in your toddler’s lunchbox now and again, especially if it can be served cold. Go for foods such as quiche or frittata as they can be cut into slices and wrapped in a cling film or foil. This mini cheese and potato frittata recipe is a great option to try for lunch and dinner.

Much healthier than crisps, add a pack of mini rice cakes to your little one’s lunchbox. If they find them a little dull, why not try introducing a flavoured variety.

Another one that’s super easy to prepare the evening before, whilst also being nutritious in a packed lunch box. Simply soak oats in yoghurt or milk in a small pot, include some fresh fruit or berries and leave in the fridge overnight. Just don’t forget to pack your little one a spoon!

If your toddler loves cheese as much as you do, why not try a cold pesto rice salad. A good leftover option to make a change from sandwiches, either make your own pesto or add a shop bought variety.

Makes a change from sandwiches everyday, you can spread the tortilla with houmous and include chopped salad, ham and cheese. Wrap in foil so it stays together in your toddler’s lunchbox.

Quick, delicious and nutritious tuna quesadillas. This is an easy-to-make in 10 minutes lunch from What Mummy Makes. Packed with goodness, these yummy quesadillas are suitable for the whole family from the age of 6 months. They make great finger-food for little and large hands a-like.
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Makes 1 large quesadilla that will serve one little and 1 adult, ⠀⠀⠀
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Ingredients: ⠀⠀⠀
• 105g tin of tuna in spring water ⠀⠀⠀
• Juice of quarter of a lemon ⠀⠀⠀
• 1 heaped tbsp of Greek yoghurt (can sub for plant based) ⠀⠀⠀
• Good grinding of black pepper
• Small handful of grated cheese (around 30g) - can sub for dairy free cheese or leave out ⠀⠀⠀
• 1 large tortilla wrap ⠀⠀⠀
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Method: ⠀⠀⠀

1. Mix the drained tuna, yoghurt, pepper and lemon juice together in a bowl, then spoon onto one half of the tortilla wrap, spreading evenly.⠀⠀⠀
2. Sprinkle over the cheese then fold the other side over so you have a half moon shape. Press to seal the quesadilla together and even out the filling. ⠀⠀⠀
3. Pop into a medium- hot dry frying pan and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until the tortilla has taken a lovely golden colour. ⠀⠀⠀
4. Transfer to a board and use a pizza cutter to slice into triangles. ⠀⠀⠀
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   Prep: 5 minutes - Cook: 5 minutes ⠀⠀⠀
   Suitable from 6 months - the filling is really soft and the tortilla will soften as it cools ⠀⠀⠀
   Can be frozen for 2 months. It will be a bit soggy when defrosted so reheat in the oven till piping hot all the way through and crispy on the outside.

Love the convenience of tinned tuna, but running out of recipe ideas? Try these yummy tuna sweetcorn fritters from What Mummy Makes. They’re so quick to whip together and these soft little fritters are a fab way to give fish to your baby. They also pack up well for meals on the go.
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Ingredients: ⠀⠀
• 90g of self-raising flour ⠀⠀
• 2 eggs (can sub for 2 flax eggs which would be 2 tablespoons of ground flax seeds and 5 tablespoons of water)⠀⠀
• 70ml of whole milk ⠀⠀
• 1 tin of tuna in spring water - drained ⠀⠀
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder ⠀⠀
• 200g of tinned sweetcorn (drained) ⠀⠀
• 60g of grated cheddar cheese (optional) ⠀⠀
• A good grinding of black pepper ⠀⠀
• 1 spring onion finely sliced ⠀⠀
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Method: ⠀⠀

1. Add all the ingredients to a bowl and stir till combined.
2. Fry tablespoon sized amounts of the mixture in a non stick pan with a little drizzle of oil, for a couple of minutes on each side. Keep the heat to a medium so the fritters cook through without burning on the outside. ⠀⠀⠀
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   Prep 5 mins - Cook - 10 minutes ⠀⠀
   Suitable from 6 months. Cut into strips if serving to babies under a year old. ⠀⠀
   Store in the fridge for a couple of days. These fritters also freeze well for up to 2 months. Store with a piece of baking paper in between each fritter to prevent them sticking together. Bung in the microwave from frozen for 2 minutes till piping hot.⠀

Liven up your humble eggy bread recipe with banana and peanut butter. This delicious no added sugar recipe from What Mummy Makes will be a winner with little tummies - and maybe even big ones too! It’s packed with healthy fats and it’s suitable for babies from 6 months old.
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Ingredients: ⠀⠀⠀
• 2 slices of bread ⠀⠀⠀
• 1 small banana ⠀⠀⠀
• 1 tbsp of 100% nut butter (peanut or almond) ⠀⠀⠀
• 2 small eggs (or 1 mashed banana mixed with a little milk) ⠀⠀⠀
• Small knob of unsalted butter ⠀⠀⠀
• Tiny drizzle of cooking oil ⠀⠀⠀
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Method: ⠀⠀⠀

1. Mash the banana in a flat bottomed bowl with the back of a fork. Spread over one piece of bread. ⠀⠀⠀
2. Spread the nut butter over the other piece of bread then sandwich together. ⠀⠀
3. Crack the eggs into the bowl, whisk then let the sarnie soak up all the egg for a minute or so on each side. ⠀
4. Melt the butter and oil in a non stick frying pan, then add the sandwich. Cook for around 3 minutes on each side, over a medium heat until it has browned nicely. ⠀⠀
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   Suitable from 6 months ⠀⠀⠀
   Prep: 5 minutes - Cook: 6 minutes ⠀⠀⠀
   Can be frozen for up to 3 months ⠀⠀

Whether it’s ‘scooone’ or ‘scon’, cream first or jam first, these blueberry cheese scones from What Mummy Makes are a game changer. A mixture of sweet and savoury, these fluffy cheese scones have bursts of yummy blueberry and they take just 10 minutes to make.
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Ingredients; Makes 8 large scones ⠀⠀⠀
• 300g of self-raising flour (can use plain with 1.5 tsp of baking powder)⠀⠀⠀⠀
• 50g of cold unsalted butter, cubed⠀(can sub for dairy free butter)⠀⠀⠀
• 150g of grated cheddar cheese (optional to make plain fruity scones) ⠀⠀⠀⠀
• 2 medium eggs (can sub for an additional 115ml of milk - do note the scones won’t be quite as fluffy) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• 70ml of whole milk (can sub for plant based)⠀⠀⠀⠀
• 150g of fresh blueberries ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Method; ⠀⠀⠀

1. Rub the butter into the flour until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. This will take around 3 minutes. ⠀⠀⠀
2. Stir in the blueberries and grated the cheese (reserving a little cheese for sprinkling on top of the scones) ⠀⠀⠀
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk and eggs. Now pour this into the dry ingredients reserving a little. ⠀⠀
4. Using a round ended knife, mix the wet and dry ingredients together. You want to work the mixture as little as possible. If the mixture is too dry add a splash more milk. ⠀⠀
5. Tip the mixture out onto a clean work surface and bring it together to form a flat circle around 2cm thick. ⠀⠀⠀⠀
6. Using a knife cut into 8 triangles and transfer to a non stick baking tray. Brush with the remaining egg and milk mixture and sprinkle over more cheese - ensuring not to wash the sides as this prevents a high rise. ⠀⠀⠀⠀
7. Bake at 220c/425f fan assisted for 10-15 minutes till risen and golden. ⠀⠀⠀⠀
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   Prep: 10mins - Bake: 10-15mins ⠀⠀⠀⠀
   These scones are suitable from 6 months. Serve in finger shaped strips.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
   Baked scones can be frozen for up to three months.