Lunch Ideas for 18 Month Old

My son is 18 months also and picky. I have to disagree with a couple of the responses that said she is too old for jar food. Sometimes that is ALL I can get my son to eat and at least I know he is getting something in his stomach. It may not be the "best" source if nutrition, but it's better than nothing at all...in my opinion. I also try to follow up with some cheese or yogurt, if he'll eat it! But, perhaps if she will eat anything, you don't have to rely on jar food like I do.

1 mom found this helpful

The jar food is not the best choice for nutrition. I cut up low sodium, preservative free lunch meat with cut up fruit for my son. You can try rice cakes with sunflower seed butter(peanuts aren't recommended before 2yrs). I also make a batch of brown rice pasta so he can snack on it for a few days. Steamed veggies and brown rice are also good options. You can bake a yam and scoop the flesh out, no need to puree. You can also cut a yam into strips and bake(healthier than regular fries). Plain yogurt with fresh fruit such as bannana. Flavored yogurt contains too much sugar. Here is a link for more info http://kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/toddler-foods.html#f....

1 mom found this helpful

There's a really great website called www.mom-a-licious.com - She has a cookbook available and the recipes are easy and yummy.

My daughter will be 3 yrs. old in two months and although she eats all kinds of table food, we still give her jars of baby food and she loves them. She uses a spoon and feeds herself from the jar even. I say give her whatever she'll eat. I feel good knowing that my daughter is sure to get her vegetables even if it's in a jar. Who cares what others think. IMO there's no such thing as too old.
Hope this helps,
C.

My two year old is very picky. Here are a couple of sure fire things he would eat for me.
Turkey hot dogs, cut up small
Cubes of cheese
Dora Yoplait yogurts for kids
Gerber graduates sweet potatoes with glazed carrots. They are microwavable and come in individual servings for toddlers. Also, the pasta pick ups of the same brand/kind.
cubed chicken with bbq sauce
Gerber also makes cubed cooked carrots and green beans
Also found with both of my kids that they are more likely to try new foods if they are served with toothpicks and they can 'poke' the food and eat it.

My 19 month old eats whatever we eat. He loves drumsticks with the splinter bone taken out, brown rice, chicken nuggets, pasta, pizza, sushi, noodles of all kinds, mac and cheese, hotdogs, garden burgers, cheese/meat/crackers, soup, couscous, meatballs, eggs, fruits, steamed/frozen veggies w/ dip... You name it and he'll eat it. Tofu is an excellent food for them to eat at any age and it's quick to cut up and they can eat it with their fingers or try to stab it with a toddler fork. The only things I won't give him yet are nuts. Put whatever it is in a bowl, give her a spoon and let her go to town. It'll be messy but she needs to learn. Jar food is too basic for her at this age unless she has difficulties chewing/swallowing etc. Let her dive in and try new tastes and textures. I do still give my son baby cereal 3-4 times a week because of the nutrients in it. Have fun!

You can make extra dinner the night before and give her that. I think some cut fruit, veggies and lean meat is a perfect lunch for that age.
Just please do not feed her microwave foods :)

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!
I just read the other responses.
I can not believe the foods people are feeding their babies. The body that your child has is the same body your child will have for the next century. Why give them such a horrible start? Just because food is packaged doesn't mean kids should consume it! What ever happened to fruit and veggies (even if they are pureed- but never from a salt packed can)? Kids will eat what they are offered as long as they are not given choices that will get them hooked (like salty and sweet foods). So many people feed their children foods that are ruining their health.