Lunch Time with Toddlers (Age 1-4)

Toddlers are selective, predictable and stubborn. Here are some tips to make lunchtime fun for your toddler!

Schedule: A key to toddler lunchtime good behavior is keeping to the same schedule every day. Sit down at the same time each day for lunch with your toddler.

Keep portion sizes small: In most cases, a serving of any type of food is about one tablespoon for every year of your child's age.

Be patient trying new foods (or even new versions of old time favorites): Raw broccoli, chopped broccoli and broccoli soup - we know its all broccoli, but expect your toddler to be suspicious. It can take a child more than up to ten times to try a new food.

Choices: Offering one large food item (i.e. a sandwich) for lunch will not go over as well as offering 3-4 small food choices. Provide a balanced healthy lunch every day that includes: Protein, Fruits and/or Vegetables, Grains, and Calcium. Food choices can be simple:

Cheese -- cubes, slices or sticks

Toast or mini bagels with cream cheese and fruit spread

Mac n' cheese with peas and ham (recipe below)

Lunch meat slices rolled up or cut into squares

Fruit (toddler bite size) --cooked apples, bananas, berries, pears, peaches, etc.

Mini-muffins

Steamed vegetables (toddler bite size) -- broccoli, carrots, green beans peas, etc

Yogurt

Whole-grain crackers

Graham crackers

Dry Cereal (Low sugar, whole-grain)

Pretzels

Food Temperature: Toddlers are sensitive to temperature -- serve food slightly warm, room temperature or slightly cool. Always check the temperature of foods before serving them.

Choking: Many foods are choking hazards until your toddler is over 3 years old. Avoid small, hard pieces of food. The most common choking hazards for toddlers are nuts (other than ground), peanut butter, whole grapes, raw, hard fruits and veggies, chunks of meat, pieces of bacon, hot dogs, popcorn, potato chips and raisins.

Mac n' Cheese with Peas and Ham
Here's a terrific recipe for a cheesy, warm lunch. The recipe below makes a large batch that can be frozen into small, single serving containers. Just warm up for a quick and tasty lunch.

Ingredients:
Classic Cheese Sauce (see below)
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup chopped ham
3 cups dry elbow macaroni

Directions:
Make classic cheese sauce (recipe below). Prepare the peas and the macaroni according to the package directions. Drain the macaroni and peas in a colander and rinse with water. Return the macaroni and peas to the pan. Over low heat, add the ham and cheese sauce. Toss gently to completely coat the macaroni with sauce. Serve Warm.

Classic Cheese Sauce
2 Tbsp of butter or margarine
2 Tbsp flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2cups cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
In a saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and saute for 2 minutes. Continue to stir and SLOWLY pour in the milk. Add the cheese. Continue to stir until melted. Add salt and pepper to taste.

--www.FreshBaby.com