Quick Dinner Ideas for Toddlers and Babies: A Weekly Plan

Key Takeaways

• Make sure your little one gets their veggies in by puréeing them until they’re undetectable.
• Some quick dinner ideas for toddlers include mac and cheese and pitta pizza.
• Need to meal prep for your babies? Focus on tasty but easy ideas the whole family can eat, such as butternut squash soup and meatballs.
• Try using plates with divided sections, such as our Octopod® dishware at Abiie®, if you have a picky toddler. It’ll keep their food from touching.

They may be young, but baby and toddler taste buds sure can be picky. That leaves many parents and caregivers lost at dinner, scrambling for something ‘kid-approved’ to serve. 

Let Abiie® help with your baby meal plan. Whip up these dinner ideas so everything on their plate disappears (even those veggies). 

Sunday: Hidden Veggie Mac and Cheese

Kids won’t eat their vegetables? They will when it’s mixed into macaroni and cheese. This quick dinner idea is perfect for picky toddlers, blending steamed vegetables into a creamy cheese sauce. The secret is to purée the vegetables, including carrots, courgettes, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, etc., until smooth so they’re completely undetectable.

You could also make this dish with whole-wheat or gluten-free chickpea pasta to increase its protein and fiber.

Monday: Breakfast for Dinner

Scrambled eggs are a welcome food for your baby meal plan. Not only are they great for babies learning to eat solids, but they’re a good source of protein and fat. They also contain B vitamins, vitamin D, iron, and choline, all nutrients that a baby’s body needs.

Plus, eggs are the perfect addition to toddler-friendly meals. Add sides like soft steamed veggies and mini banana pancakes for a special treat. 

Tip: Many toddlers don’t like their food to touch or mix. If that sounds like your little one, try using a silicone plate with divided sections like our Octopod® frog silicone suction dishes at Abiie®.

Tuesday: Butternut Squash Soup

Butternut squash soup isn’t just a tasty toddler dinner idea. With its creamy texture and warm flavours, it’s sure to become a family favourite, too. 

This soup will come together quickly. All you’ll do is chop and sauté your butternut squash with onions, garlic, and carrots. Then, add vegetable broth, simmer, and blend. You could also add herbs and seasonings, such as ginger and turmeric. Tinned beans are fantastic, too.

We know this is one of the messier toddler dinner ideas. However, you can minimise the mess by using your Ruby Wrapp® silicone bib from Abiie®. Then, when dinner is finished, you can pop it in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.

Baby Meal Plan Tip: This soup makes the perfect meal prep for babies. Make your soup and store it in a container for 3 to 5 days. Or, you could freeze smaller portions in an ice cube tray.

Wednesday: Spaghetti and Meatballs

Spaghetti is a classic for a reason. It’s quick. It’s easy. And it’s perfect for the whole family. Just make sure that your meatballs are soft and around 5 cm in diameter to make them baby-friendly. You should also use large and easy-to-grasp pasta shapes, like penne and rigatoni.

If your toddler doesn’t like red sauce, you can adapt this dinner idea by using pesto.

Thursday: Easy Salmon Cakes

Looking to introduce fish into your baby’s diet? Omega-3-rich salmon cakes are soft and easy for babies to handle, making mealtime less stressful and more fun. They’re also flavourful enough of a dinner idea for toddlers and adults to enjoy.

Salmon cakes come together quickly and require just a few simple ingredients. Here’s what you’ll do:

1. Mix 3 to 4 ounces of cooked or tinned salmon, one egg, ¼ cup grated veggies, 2 tablespoons flour, and a pinch of oregano and parsley.
2. Shape your mixture into patties.
3. Heat a nonstick pan and lightly fry your patties until golden brown on each side. You could also bake them if you don’t want to use oil.
4. Allow to cool, then serve.

You can also use salmon cakes to meal prep for babies. Just let them cool before storing in the refrigerator or freezer.

Friday: Easy Pitta Pizza

Short on time? Pitta pizzas make for quick dinner ideas for toddlers. And the best part is, they can be adjusted to your little one’s tastes. Using pitta as the base, you could add:

• Sauce: Marinara, pesto, or just brush with olive oil
• Cheese: Parmesan, mozzarella, cheddar, vegan cheese, or none at all
• Toppings: Chicken, pepperoni, sliced tomatoes, courgettes, squash, etc.

You could even get your toddler in on the fun by letting them make their own pizza. This is an especially useful strategy for feeding picky eaters.

Saturday: Deluxe Snack Dinner

A deluxe snack dinner is the perfect way to end the week. Why’s that? Because no cooking is required! Just arrange bite-sized finger foods on a plate for an easy meal for kids and adults of all ages.

You’ll just need to adjust this dinner idea to your toddler’s or baby’s chewing abilities. Some fun examples include:

• Cheese cubes or sticks
• Turkey slices
• Veggies, such as cucumber slices and baby carrots
• Soft fruits like blueberries and mango
• Hummus
• Crackers or pretzels

Create Your Toddler or Baby Meal Plan With Abiie®

We know it can be challenging to come up with quick dinner ideas for babies and toddlers, so we hope our list at Abiie® serves as a helpful guide for your menu. 

Need more baby meal ideas? Focus on simplicity and kid-friendly staples, like pasta, cheese, and fruits. These ingredients provide the base for many meals and snacks, so you can put your baby in their wooden high chair, slip on their silicone bib, and make mealtime easier than ever.