Toddler Meal Ideas (Egg Allergy Friendly)

Over the last few months, I’ve received several messages asking for me to share meal ideas for toddlers. I get it – feeding a little one, especially a toddler can seem daunting. Can I be honest though? As much as I love sharing information with all of you – this was a topic that I dreaded touching on. Let me explain.

As parents, both Thaddeus and I were eager to introduce Nori to solids. I watched the calendar like a hawk, eagerly waiting for the 6 month mark to hit. When the moment finally came to feed Nori solids, her reaction was unenthusiastic, dare I say “disgusted”. I figured this reaction was normal since solids were foreign to her and to just give it some time.

Fast forward a few months later, Nori still showed a disdain for food. Most days, her plates went untouched. All she wanted was breast milk. As a first time mama, this was frightening. Why won’t my child eat? Is this normal? Is she getting enough calories? Enough protein? Will her lack of eating affect her brain development? These were all valid questions that ran through my mind. The advice from her pediatrician was to continue exposing her to different types of food and she will eat when she’s ready.

By 12-13 months, something finally clicked. Nori started showing interest in food and would eat most meals served. Although she still doesn’t clear her plate and has several days where she’d rather nurse than eat, she’s made such progress from where she was months ago.

So as you can see, this is why I was afraid to touch on the eating topic. While I may share meal idea’s on my Instagram story, I feared writing a blog post that could give the impression that my daughter was an excellent eater. I didn’t want to feel like a fraud. If I’m being honest, meal time gives me so much anxiety, even ’til this day. After some thought (and encouragement from Thaddeus), I realized I should be transparent and share this experience as many of you may be able to relate.

With that being said – over these last few months I’ve had to get creative in the kitchen. I’ve introduced Nori to a wide range of foods and finally nailed down some meals that she absolutely loves. Below I share her favorite breakfast, lunch and dinner meals + additional meal and snack ideas that even the most pickiest toddlers will love.

A few quick notes:

• At 3 months, Nori was diagnosed with an egg allergy. We are working with her allergist to determine the best method for reintroducing eggs back into her diet. For this reason, none of the meals mentioned below will include eggs or egg by-products.
• We made the decision to not introduce meat into Nori’s diet. We don’t follow a “vegan” diet, however the only animal products we offer are dairy (cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese) and seafood. We sometimes offer “vegan” meat, but we make sure to read the nutritional facts first. Vegan meat can have an extreme amount of sodium (especially for a toddler), so be sure to check the sodium levels before offering this substitute to your little one. If your toddler eats meat, many of the meals below can be adjusted to include it.
• Nori is 15 months and her primary source of calcium is breast milk. We have not yet introduced cow or dairy-free milk.
• We have practiced Baby-Led Weaning from Day 1. All meals suggested below are perfect for self-feeding little ones.

If you’re a mama struggling with these same experiences, don’t give up. Keep exposing your little one to new foods and don’t be afraid to reach out for help if you need it. There are tons of great resources that can help get your babe on the right track towards eating. ♡

---

---

---

---

---

Below are some of my favorite plates, utensils, bibs and more: