Get Ready to Wow Your Fussy Toddlers with These 20 Exciting and Super Simple Lunch Ideas (less than five ingredients!)

Feb 19

4 min read

Feeding fussy toddlers can often feel overwhelming, filled with negotiations over what to eat. For parents, lunchtime can either be a delightful experience or a chaotic battle. The goal is clear: provide nutritious meals that your little ones will actually enjoy without any tantrums. No need to worry! We’ve gathered twenty super simple lunch ideas that are not only tasty but also visually appealing to those picky eaters at your table. Get set to make lunchtime enjoyable and stress-free!

1. Roasted Cauliflower Bites

Simply bake with some olive oil and seasoning. Easy-peasy and delicious.

2. Pesto Pasta

Cook up some penne pasta (or squiggly pasta is also a favourite in our house) and toss with some jarred pesto, parmesan, olive oil and any vege you please (cherry tomatoes or zucchini work well).

Pasta with basil pesto, peas, and zucchini in a white bowl. Text: "Pesto Pasta. Pasta, basil pesto, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan, olive oil."

Mini Quesadillas

You can put anything you please in a quesadilla, and if you are anything like me, there is always a good supply of cheese in my fridge, if I don't have shredded chicken, I use ham, no salsa? Pizza sauce. You can also throw in any diced veggies - capsicum, corn, and tomatoes taste great in a quesadilla. You can then toast them in a frying pan with a little butter or bake them in the oven, let the cheese work its magic, and stick all of the ingredients together.

Plate with mini quesadillas stacked, filled with cheese, black beans, and shredded chicken. Text reads: "Mini Quesadillas..."

Couscous with Diced Veggies and Feta

This one is spectacularly simple; if you haven't worked with couscous before, it is as easy as adding boiling water, stirring and leaving for 5 minutes; throw in some feta, olive oil and diced veggies and it is done!

Plate of couscous with diced veggies and feta, garnished with parsley. Text below lists ingredients: couscous, tomato, cucumber, feta, olive oil.

5. Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches

Look, this is not my personal favourite, but my kids go absolutely bananas (haha) for it! It is self-explanatory - bread (raisin bread if you are feeling fancy), peanut butter and banana slices.

Peanut butter, banana sandwich on brown bread shown. Text: "Peanut Butter and Banana. Bread, peanut butter, banana, honey (optional)."

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6. Fruit and Yoghurt Dip Platter

Any fruit cut into safe pieces (make sure to halve your grapes) dipped in any yoghurt - yum.

Fruit platter with kiwi, watermelon, oranges, pineapple, grapes, and yogurt bowl. Text: Fruit and Yogurt Dip Platter ingredients.

7. Pea and Parmesan Pasta

These recipes are so simple that it seems silly to write descriptions! Boil the pasta and peas (you can even do it in the same pot), drain, throw in some parmesan, butter, pepper and stir.

Bowl of rotini pasta with peas and Parmesan. Text: Pea and Parmesan Pasta; includes butter, peas, Parmesan, black pepper (optional).

8. Egg Salad Sandwiches

This one transports me back in time to packed lunches on the beach as a child. Boil, peel and smash some eggs. Add mustard (or mustard powder), mayo, salt and usually white pepper. Spread on some buttered bread with a couple of pieces of crunchy lettuce. Delish!

Egg salad sandwich with lettuce on brown bread. Text below lists ingredients: bread, boiled eggs, mayonnaise, mustard (optional), salt.

9. Mac and Cheese with Steamed Broccoli

Most people have their own favourite mac and cheese recipe - and if that happens to be out of the packet, then no judgement here! Make yourself feel better, and throw in some steamed broccoli, though!

Mac and cheese with broccoli on a plate. Text below: "Mac and Cheese with Steamed Broccoli," listing ingredients: pasta, cheese, milk, butter.

10. Cheese, Turkey and Grapes

A simple but delicious combo that always gets gobbled up in a matter of minutes in my house.

Cheese cubes, deli turkey, and grapes displayed with a wooden spoon. Text: "Cheese Cubes, Deli Turkey, and Grapes."

Check out this Toddler Food Bible for easy meal planning

11. Mini Vege Quiches

These can be in pastry boats or not - I often just use some leftover puff or shortcrust pastry that I have in the freezer. Line or grease a cupcake tray, mould your pastry into a boat and insert it. Add any filling that you desire (ham, cheese, veggies, chicken) and cover in some beaten eggs. Bake till cooked - simple.

Mini veggie quiches on parchment atop a wooden board. Ingredients: eggs, zucchini, cheese, spinach, milk. Text beneath quiches.

12. Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup

If choosing canned soup for this - it is best to choose a salt-reduced one for toddlers. I'm not going to leave instructions for you about making grilled cheese for fear of patronising my followers!

Grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup on a wooden board with a serrated knife. Text below lists ingredients.

13. Fried Rice

I was so lazy with this recipe the other day that I used a microwave packet of rice, frozen vege from the packet, and some soy sauce - the kids devoured it, and it literally took me 5 minutes to whack it together!

Plate of fried rice with peas, carrots, topped with a fried egg. Text reads: "Fried Rice with Eggs, Peas, and Carrots."

14. Turkey and Cheese Roll Up

I often have this one for lunch myself! Once your kids learn to manage a rolled up tortilla its a game changer - no mess lunch.

Turkey and cheese roll-up with spinach inside a tortilla. Text: Turkey and Cheese Roll-Ups, includes deli turkey, cheese, spinach, mustard. — Homemade pizza bagels topped with cheese and colorful toppings

15. Cheese and Tomato Toastie

A classic! Make sure the tomato has time to coll before offering and improve the health rating by using wholemeal bread.

Cheese and tomato toastie on whole-grain bread with butter. Text below describes ingredients. Toastie looks crispy and savory.

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16. Dim Sims and Broccoli

It took a while for my three to warm up to Dim Sims (which I can't understand because I think they are one of the most incredible foods on the planet!) I am in no way suggesting that you should prepare these from scratch by the way - a lot of the store-bought ones actually have great health ratings - lean meats and steamed, not fried, is probably why. I toss some broccoli in oyster sauce, sesame oil and garlic to accompany it.

Dim Sims on a white plate. Text: Dim Sims and Broccoli. Ingredients: soy sauce, broccoli, garlic, rice.

17. Hard Boiled Eggs with Sweet Potato Fries

A winning combination! To get crunchy sweet potato fries try these tricks - thin slices crisp better, toss in olive oil and cornflour, don't overcrowd the pan.

Plate of hard-boiled eggs and orange sweet potato chips on white. Text reads: "Hard-Boiled Eggs with Sweet Potato Chips." Ingredients listed.

18. Chicken and Veggie Pasties

I use leftovers in pasties all the time - anything mince, anything chicken, curried sausages, you name it! Finely sliced, cooked and seasoned chicken with peas, carrot and cream is a winner though.

Golden chicken pasties on a blue plate. Text reads: Chicken Pasties - Chicken, puff pastry, peas, carrots, cream. Bright, appetizing display.

19. Scrambled Eggs and Avocado Toast

Who said eggs are just for breakfast? Most of the time, my lot wants cereal for breaky, so lunch is my chance to get some good protein and veg into them, avo toast and eggs are always a winner.

Two slices of bread with scrambled eggs and avocado on a white plate. Text: "Scrambled Eggs and Avocado Toast. Eggs, bread, avocado, butter, salt."

20. Fish Fingers and Steamed Carrots

Super simple and always destoryed! For an edge on your steamed carrot add a dash or honey and salt.

Plate with fish fingers, lemon, and herbs on a blue dish. Sauce in a bowl. Text: Baked Fish Fingers with Steamed Carrots, ingredients list.

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Final Thoughts

With these 20 exciting and super simple lunch ideas, you can lighten the mealtime load while keeping your toddler happy. Remember, it might take time for some dishes to become favourites, so patience is key! Involve your little ones in preparing their meals—this often makes them more open to trying new foods. Ultimately, the aim is to nourish their growing bodies and keep their taste buds engaged. Enjoy your lunchtime adventures, parents!