Toddler Approved Summer Inspired Recipes

recipes • Updated June 4, 2021

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There are SO many things to absolutely love about summer, but cooking over a hot stove in a warm kitchen is just simply NOT one of them. I’m making meal time with the littlest members of our family easy this season by using fresh ingredients that require minimal cook time. In an effort to do just that, I’ve rounded up some deliciously cool recipes that are not only simple, but have also been toddler tested and approved! Let’s start with the most important meal of the day: breakfast!

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 almond, and either honey or agave nectar. I like to set out all of the ingredients in small cups and let 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, for lunch 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 recipe to change their minds, this is it!

Cut up watermelon in 1/2 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!

Toddler approved, Lunch, Watermelon salad, Mint, Feta, Lemon

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 it veggie style!

Toddler approved, Dinner, Zoodles, Parmesan, Pesto, Cherry tomatoes, Dinner

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 honestly — 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 sincerely 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 when a company listens to its customers, and modern mamas love 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’s going to look gorgeous against my white marble countertops! A perfect pairing. Highly recommend!