There are many things to love about summer, but cooking over a hot stove in a warm kitchen is not one of them. I make meal time with the littlest members of our family easy during the hot months by using fresh ingredients that require minimal cooking time. I’ve rounded up some deliciously simple and cool summer recipes for toddlers that have been child-tested and approved!
Breakfast
A parfait is about as close as you can get to having dessert for breakfast, and what kid wouldn’t love that? At our house, we use our favorite organic plain yogurt; then we jazz it up with fresh berries, granola with almonds, and either honey or agave nectar. I like setting out all the ingredients in small cups and letting the kids build their own. Getting them involved in making the food is a fun start to a summer day of play.
Lunch
After playing at the pool in the sun all morning, we crave refreshing fruit to help us cool down before nap time. I almost hesitate to call this dish a salad because I know toddlers don’t traditionally love them, but if there was a lunch recipe to change their minds, this is it.
- Cut up watermelon in ½-inch cubes
- Chop up a few mint leaves
- Crumble a handful of feta on top
- Using freshly squeezed lemon juice as your dressing, toss together and serve chilled!
Dinner
Our dinner recipe is one the whole family will flip for, and it’s super fun to say. ZOODLES! Zoodles (zucchini noodles) can be made using a spiralizer. See my favorite spiralizer here. Or you can buy them pre-packaged at Whole Foods.
I like to sauté mine on medium-high heat in a few tablespoons of olive oil until tender (usually about 10 minutes). Then I add one to two cups of water (enough to cover the bottom of the pan), and boil until fully cooked, then drain. Top your zoodles with your favorite jar of pesto, sliced cherry tomatoes, and grated parmesan. If you’d like to add a protein, grilled shrimp or chicken would be a great pairing, but my kids prefer veggie-style.
Dinnerware
Once you’ve decided what you’re serving your toddlers this summer, it’s time to decide what to serve it on!
I can’t get enough of the entire line at Re-Play. I have been using their cups for years, and in my four-plus years of motherhood, I have never found a better sippy cup (and I have tried them all). The Re-Play cups are so easy to sanitize and are leak-proof. My hands down, favorite cup.
We also have the divided plates (a must-have for my picky eater who hates his food touching) and utensils, and I love how easily they wash and stack up. Recently, Re-Play introduced their all-white collection, and I can’t wait to snag a set! I love it when a company listens to its customers, and modern mamas love it when their kids’ stuff complements their interior design (rather than distracting from it). Re-Play got it right with the white collection, and I know it will look gorgeous against my white marble countertops! It’s a perfect pairing. Highly recommend!
These summer recipes for toddlers will keep them entertained while providing plenty of nutritional value bang for your buck. Enjoy!
