Feeding toddlers is unpredictable. Some days they eat everything in sight and other days they barely nibble. As a mom of two, I try to focus less on the pressure and more on providing balanced options and trusting my toddler’s appetite. This post is a realistic example of what my toddler ate in a day, including how much she actually ate at each meal.
Links to Mealtime Favorites:
- Stainless Steel Plates
- Easy Scoop Removable Divider Plates
- Dinnerware Set (Plate, Bowl, Utensil, Cup, Placemat)
- Toddler Utensils (Set of 8)
- Stainless Steel Plates WITH Suction + Utensil Sets (Bought these for my baby who is starting baby led weaning soon!)
BREAKFAST (8:30 AM)
We started the morning with a balanced and filling plate.
I love using this Stainless Steel Plate for my toddler. It’s durable, non-toxic, and so easy to clean – perfect for everyday meals.
Breakfast plate:
• Everything bagel with avocado oil and mashed avocado (I love the brands One Mighty Mill & Daves Killer Bread)
• Sliced strawberries
• Half a hard boiled egg
She’s in a bagel loving stage right now and since I had one with avocado, she asked for the same. I mashed avocado on top of her bagel halves and she nearly finished everything, leaving just a couple bites and a little egg.
MORNING SNACK (10:00 AM)
A little while after breakfast, she wanted a snack and picked one herself.
The bowl and cup in the back is included in this dinnerware full set. This matching dinnerware set is a great all-in-one option with everything your toddler needs for mealtime, from plate to utensils to a placemat and cup.
Snack:
• Amara mango smoothie melts (WINNIE15 for 15% OFF)
These are a pantry staple for us. I’ve been encouraging her to hold off on multiple snacks so she eats more at meals. Keeping it to one small snack helped her stay hungry for lunch.
LUNCH (11:30 AM)
Lunch included a variety of textures and flavors, and it ended up being one of her favorite meals of the day. She usually fills up on snacks and barely touches lunch, but today was different. Since I held back on offering too many morning snacks, she came to the table with a real appetite and it showed.
I like the plate HERE. These removable divider plates make it simple to separate different foods, and the curved edges help toddlers scoop food more easily on their own.
Lunch plate:
• Chicken fried rice
• Pan fried gyoza
• Watermelon cubes
She especially loved the fried rice and asked for more egg and water chestnuts. She finished most of the rice and watermelon and ate about half of the gyoza.
AFTERNOON SNACK (2:30 PM & 3:30 PM)
After her nap, we had a relaxed snack time that turned into a mini mealtime when she wanted to try what I was eating.
Snack plate:
• Golden kiwi
• String cheese
• Habeya Sweet potato crackers
I gave her a simple snack plate with fruit, cheese, and crackers when she woke up from her nap around 2:30. She finished most of the kiwi, cheese, and crackers. Around 3:30, I was eating shawarma with pita at the same time and, of course, she asked for some too. I put together a small bowl for her with beef, chicken, pita, and chopped tomatoes.
DINNER (6:00 PM)
Dinner tends to be her lightest meal of the day, so I kept expectations low and offered a few different items.
Dinner plate:
• Wheat noodles with shredded pork rib and papaya soup
• Sautéed squash
• Cucumber slices
She mainly ate the noodles and had a few bites of the other items. I always include at least one familiar food to give her something comforting to fall back on.
What my toddler eats in a day is never exactly the same and that’s okay. I try to offer balanced meals, limit snacks just enough to protect her appetite, and allow her to eat according to her hunger. Some meals are full of excitement and requests for seconds. Others are more about small bites and curiosity. If you’re in this season too, you’re doing great!
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