I keep seeing posts about how over cooking every single meal we all are. We are burnt out from trying to do at least 3 full time jobs all at once, with no respite. We are working, day-caring, cooking, home-schooling, worrying about the state of the world, and trying to connect with our loved ones far away. All without a chance to adventure out into the world. We are doing our best, but we are tired.

If any of this resonates with you, I hope to offer some help. I have compiled my favorite no-cook and quick-cook kid-friendly lunches to keep your little ones nourished between zoom meetings.

If you’ve been following for a while, you know I love anything that can dual wield as food and an activity. Toddlers need connection, and if we can offer that while also performing the essential function of getting them fed, win-win. This is why I love “build your own” meals. They get to do the meal prep themselves, which builds confidence, takes some work off your plate, and is a fun activity for them! Yes, it creates a few more dishes, but that is a minor inconvenience when you look at the pros. Pop those babies in the dishwasher.

A few tips about BYO meals.

Try and start the prep before anyone is actually hungry. Adults and kiddos are not as patient when hungry, and it can get frustrating and more effort than it’s worth if one or both parties are hangry.

Make a creation zone, where everything they need is in one place, preferably on top of a kitchen cloth or place mat for easy clean up. If they need several spoons for dipping and scooping, have all that on hand before they start. Have any ingredients they need portioned out in small bowls or cups (I love these silicone baking cups for this). Also, have a kitchen towel or rag they can use for clean up when the spills happen. Try not to worry about spills too much, and if they are old enough, teach them how to clean them by themselves.

Offer at least one component you know they will be excited about. Offer at least one component they are familiar with and typically like. Offer at least one component that is new and unfamiliar. This triad of choices is an effective way to offer security while also expanding their palates and nutrient exposure.

Don’t feel like you have to offer every component listed. Try for around 2-5 to give choices, but not overwhelm or cause too much stress on your part. This is supposed to be easy for you! I am simply offering ideas of different things to offer.

If you have two kids, I recommend giving them each their own serving of the main component (cottage cheese, yogurt) and letting them pick from the components offered.

My favorite Build Your Own meals

• Cottage Cheese Bowl

  • Sweet: cottage cheese, canned mandarin oranges, jarred peaches,  jam, apple sauce, baby food fruit puree (if you have a baby and a toddler like we do- some of those are delicious), frozen fruit (thawed), cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, cocoa powder, chia seeds, hemp hearts, fresh fruit,
  • Savory: avocado, black beans, mild salsa, olives, shredded cheese, cumin, garlic powder, shredded lettuce, tortilla chips, leftover spaghetti sauce, leftover ground beef, basil, oragano

• Toddler Charcuterie

  • *pick a few from each category. Bonus: it usually doubles as my lunch. I can’t pass up a good charcuterie board*
  • Protein: ham, turkey, cheese cubes, boiled egg slices, nuts (if age appropriate), diced leftover meat from dinner (the texture and flavor totally changes when cold the next day, so even if they didn’t like it, offer it again)
  • Grain: crackers,  pretzels, tortilla chips, potato chips, bread (sliced into chunks or slivers)
  • Fruit: canned fruit, apple slices, fresh fruit, orange wedges, grapes, mango chunks, kiwi
  • Veggies: celery sticks, carrots, broccoli, cherry tomatoes (quartered), cucumber slices
  • Extras: olives (cut in quarters), avocado slices, M&M’s, chocolate chips,
  • Dips: mustard, hummus, salsa, mayonnaise, ranch, pesto mayonnaise, ketchup, whatever they like to dip things into

• Yogurt Bowls

  • yogurt, frozen fruit (thawed), fresh fruit, canned fruit, cereal, granola, chia seeds

• Taco Bowls

  • tortilla chips, leftover meat/canned chicken, salsa, canned refried beans, sour cream, shredded cheese, avocado chunks

• Smoothie Bowl

  • pour smoothie into bowl, top with fruit, chia seeds

• ”Lunchables”

  • “Cracker Stacker”: crackers, lunch meat, cheese slices
  • Pizza: english muffin or toast, pizza/spaghetti sauce, cheese, pepperoni
  • Nachos: tortilla chips, cheese, salsa, refried beans, olives

• Sandwich on a Stick

  • Lunch meat squares, cheese squares, bread squares, cherry tomatoes, pickles
  • Let them put it all on a skewer or toothpick and then eat like a kabob
  • If your little one is too young for a skewer, try a straw or dull chop stick

• Pinwheel Sandwiches

  • Let your toddler make their own sandwich on a tortilla
  • Roll and slice into pinwheels

• Peanut Butter Apple Cinnamon Sushi

  • Same concept as a pinwheel, but flatten bread, spread peanut butter, slivered apple, and cinnamon. Roll and slice. For added fun let them use kids chopsticks.

• Quesadilla

  • Let your toddler fill the tortilla with cheese, meat, olive slices, salsa, dash of garlic powder or cumin. If they are old enough, teach them how to put it in the microwave to melt the cheese. Eloise can reach our microwave with her stool and knows to just push the 30 second button for whatever she wants to heat up.

Whatever your home life situation is right now, just remember you are doing your best. Offer yourself grace. A little bit of creativity goes a long way with toddlers. Novelty is (almost) everything. Try a new “snacktivity” for lunch and see if it takes a little pressure off lunchtime.