Easy Toddler Meals

I don't know about dinner time at your house but over here it used to go a little something like this: me scrambling to prep, cook and keep all my fingers in the process while a tiny human clung to my legs screaming. Chris works nights so he is asleep when the last meal time of the day rolls around, and that also conveniently happens to be witching hour. Don't get me wrong, Fallon pulls this at every meal but it's 10 times more intense at dinner time. And I was losing my mind every single evening trying to run the show solo something had to give. I boarded the easy meal train and never looked back. 

We're moms, we work our butts off all day long, by 5:30PM we are tired. So tired. And we deserve a little slack. I had to stop thinking like an adult in terms of meals and start thinking like a kid. I now cook less, clean up less and stress over dinnertime less by ditching the Pinterest menus and fancy meals. Now if cooking is your thing and chaos does not ensue every time you attempt it, I am certainly not knocking your style. But if you're over chopping, sautéing with a 20lb hungry gremlin wrapped around your ankles, welcome to my world. You don't have to make gourmet fajitas to be a good mom.

The first thing I had to get over was feeding Fallon traditional meals. She doesn't know the difference nor does she care if she's eating lasagna and garlic bread or a plate filled with random foods. Secondly, kids like what they like. They are happy to eat the same thing twice in one day or 3 times in the same week. And finally, I keep in mind that the post dinner clean up on aisle EVERYWHERE responsibility will always fall to me. Spaghetti anyone? So a little meal prep when she's napping or otherwise occupied because her belly is full and a whatever works attitude have been the winning combination for a total game changer in our house. I no longer desperately try to cook over a hot stove or chop veggies under the pressure of a raging toddler underneath me. I just mostly shovel a few food groups onto pretty plates, drop it on the high chair and let her go to town while I enjoy the peace. There is something about a colorful meal on a colorful plate that just seems toddler tailored. We have been using plates, cups and utensils from Replay Recycled and they are so durable (they've been launched across the room), easy to clean and just fun for Fallon to use for meal time. When I put together a meal I choose foods from each food group and serve. Quick, easy and Fallon approved.

Protein: Chicken in the crockpot is one of the greatest ideas ever. Put it in, turn it on, let it cook. Done. Beans are so easy to rinse and serve, lunch meat can be rolled up or quickly torn into strips and sausage can be cooked ahead of time then cut up to serve. Scrambling a batch of eggs to eat throughout the week is so easy too. And I am NEVER above a good old peanut butter sandwich. 

Fruits/Veggies: I am a fan of ready to serve fruits like blueberries and raspberries but grapes, bananas or avocado can be so quickly sliced a monkey could make it happen in seconds and Fallon can peel a little mandarin orange herself. Steam in a bag veggies are always on hand but I also don't mind doing a little prep by chopping and sautéing or roasting them to store in the fridge when there's not a hungry gremlin hanging around. 

Sides: Cheese sticks or shredded cheese are often in our line up for lunch and/or dinner as well pretzel thins, pita bread or sliced almonds. Fallon also really likes cheese tortellini or mac n cheese so those can easily be made during nap time or while Chris is home midday to wrangle her. 

On Chris's off nights we sometimes will have family style meals like homemade pizza, french toast or spaghetti squash. But my oven is rarely on during witching hour these days and that's the way I like it. I'm running on E by the that point and barely having to think to get Fallon's dinner on the table is necessary for my sanity. Fallon goes to be early so I eat later and if I want to cook something for myself and leave Chris the leftovers I can do it stress free while she sleeps. It's not a new concept. Keeping things colorful usually equals nutritional and my kid is healthy and happy. But I definitely did the whole hand to the face thing when this idea of meals a la cart occurred to me. So if you're sitting there thinking DUH, you're not alone and I'm not a genius. It's kind of like when you see someone wearing a really cute outfit and you have the same pants, top and jacket at home but never thought to put them all together. You had this thought somewhere in the dark recesses of your mind, you just needed someone to turn the light on.