What My Toddler Ate In A Day (2 years old)

This is a realistic look at what my toddler eats in a day – simple, balanced meals mixed with practical snacks that fit our everyday routine. She’s in a big snacking phase right now, so I’ve been focusing on offering filling meals first and being intentional with the snacks I choose. Every day looks a little different, but here’s what a typical day of eating looks like for her, along with the small strategies that help us keep mealtimes smoother!

Breakfast: Cinnamon Oatmeal with Chopped Pear

I kept breakfast simple and cozy with cinnamon oatmeal. It’s just oats cooked in milk with a sprinkle of cinnamon and chopped pear (or apple) mixed in. The fruit adds natural sweetness and a little extra fiber without any added sugar! I served it with mixed berries, scrambled egg and chicken breakfast sausage on the side.

Cinnamon Oatmeal Recipe

Ingredients:

• ½ cup rolled oats
• 1 cup milk (or milk of choice)
• ¼–½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ cup grated apple or pear (optional)

Instructions:

1. Combine the oats and milk in a small pot.
2. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 3–5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add cinnamon and the grated apple or pear, if using.
4. Cook until thickened to your toddler’s preferred texture.
5. Serve warm with desired toppings. I always add sunflower seed butter for some extra fats and hemp seeds/coconut.

Morning Snack: Skout Bar + Leftover Croissant

She had a Skout blueberry bar for her first snack, and then finished the rest of the croissant she didn’t eat yesterday. This held her over until lunchtime! Usually, she would ask for more snacks but I keep her busy with activities or outdoor time until lunch.

Lunch: Turkey Fried Rice + Steamed Bun + Carrots

Lunch was a nourishing bowl of homemade turkey fried rice packed with veggies. I served it with a steamed green onion bun and extra carrots on the side.

She didn’t touch the carrots, so I saved the same ones to offer again at dinner. Re-offering foods helps her get comfortable seeing and trying a variety of ingredients throughout the day.

Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon oil (plus more as needed)
• ½ pound ground turkey
• 1 small bok choy, chopped
• ½ cup diced carrots
• 1 egg
• 1 cup cooked rice (day-old preferred)
• 1–2 tablespoons soy sauce
• Optional: garlic or garlic powder

Instructions:

1. Heat a little oil in a pan and sauté the chopped bok choy and carrots until softened. Remove the veggies from the pan and set aside.
2. In the same pan, cook the ground turkey until browned. Season lightly with salt if needed.
3. Add the veggies back into the pan with the turkey. Mix together.
4. Push everything to one side of the pan. Add a little more oil to the empty side and crack in the egg. Scramble and break it up as it cooks.
5. Add the rice directly into the pan, breaking up any clumps.
6. Pour in the soy sauce and toss everything together until well coated and heated through.
7. Adjust seasoning to taste and serve warm.

Afternoon Snack: Crunchy Pops + Tangerine

After her nap, she had Trader Joe’s Crunchy Pops and a tangerine. This is a quick snack that help her over until an early dinner.

Dinner: Chicken Adobo, Rice, Carrots, Kiwi + Tangerine

Dinner was chicken adobo over white rice with the same carrots she didn’t eat at lunch. I added kiwi and another tangerine because she always eats fruit well in the evenings.

Linking the recipe HERE!

Re-offering the same veggie twice gives her another chance to see it without any pressure. Sadly, she still didn’t touch the carrots!

How We’re Working On Less Snacking And More Meals

Lately, my toddler asks for snacks nonstop, which is normal at this age. To help her stay fuller and get more balanced nutrients, I’ve been focusing on:

• Serving filling meals first.
• Re-offering foods throughout the day for gentle exposure.
• Giving meal-style foods during snack times when she is truly hungry – like rice with meat and veggies, a steamed bun, a sandwich, or a quesadilla.
• Keeping snacks simple so they don’t replace meals.

It’s a work in progress, but creating structure around meals and snacks has made our days smoother.