A Week of Easy Kids Meal Ideas

Coming up with ideas for what to feed the kids from breakfast through dinner (and those snack times in between!) can feel like such a challenge. To help, here are 7 days worth of easy kids meal ideas for some inspiration.

I know firsthand how it can often feel like you’re totally out of ideas for what to make the kids each day. The endlessness of feeding a family is real! Thankfully, I also know that simply seeing new ideas can help bust any of us out of a rut—so these seven sample days worth of kids meal ideas are here to help.

I’ve included a toddler breakfast, snack for kids, kids lunches, healthy snacks for kids, and toddler dinner ideas for each day of a sample week. These are real meals and foods that I’ve served to my middle kiddo when she was two years old, so know that you may need to adjust the specifics of how a food is served or the serving size for your own child.

(For more easy kids meal ideas, you can also find some of my go-to shortcut toddler meals, easy summer lunch ideas, and no-cook school lunch ideas, too.)

TIP: I hope this is implied, but OF COURSE sub in similar prepared or purchased foods if and when you can’t make everything homemade.

How to Plan Kids Meals Step-by-Step

Before we jump into the specifics of each meal, here are a few tips to keep in mind when it comes to planning out kids meals.

1. Aim for variety over the course of the day and the week in your kids meal ideas. Some days your kids may want more of one food group and that’s okay if you adjust what comes on days after to help balance their nutrition without forcing them to eat certain foods.
2. Trust that your child knows their own hunger levels and don’t push extra bites if they truly aren’t hungry. (They’re the only ones in their bodies!)
3. Stick to a set schedule of meal times and aim to avoid letting them graze in between. This is the best way to ensure that they’ll actually be hungry for meals. Adjust the schedule if the kids are consistently hungry before it’s time—or try an easy appetizer of raw fruits or veggies before dinner if that helps.
4. Depending on where your kiddo is with growth, hunger, and activity level, they may need or want a bedtime snack for kids. That’s okay as long as they aren’t skipping dinner to get to a snack they prefer. If that’s happening, make the bedtime snack super boring—like a banana! Or save the rest of their dinner and offer it to them if they say they’re hungry before bed.

TIP: Keep the personality of your child in mind and adjust any advice accordingly. Every kiddo is unique and may react differently to different scenarios. There’s no perfect here!

Kids Meal Ideas: Day 1

Swap in leftover homemade pancakes from the weekend or pick up a low sugar frozen waffle. I like Kashi or Vans brand.

• Breakfast: Banana Oatmeal Pancakes or waffles (homemade, leftover, or frozen from the store), milk, extra sliced banana
• Morning Snack: Homemade Granola Bar (or a store kids bought one) with optional milk
• Lunch: Spinach and Cheese Pizza Roll, fruit and cucumbers
• Afternoon Snack: Strawberry Banana Smoothie with Cauliflower
• Dinner: Broccoli Pesto Pasta, Pan-Seared Chicken, side applesauce

TIP: Each day should include an iron-rich food for kids to help kids get enough of that nutrient.

Kids Breakfast Recipes to Try

Favorite Banana Oatmeal Pancakes

Very ripe (with brown spots) bananas will give these Banana Oatmeal Pancakes the best flavor. Dice them up or serve whole, according to how the kids prefer to eat them.

Favorite Banana Oatmeal Pancakes

Easy Homemade Granola Bars

We like to have these granola bars as a snack or toddler breakfast with milk or a smoothie—and they're an excellent lunch box component too. You can make them plain or choose a flavor to add!

Easy Homemade Granola Bars

Favorite Pizza Rolls (with Veggies)

This Pizza Rolls recipe is packed with nutrition—and even greens!—but the cheese and silly spiral shape makes them much more appealing to toddlers and big kids. Be sure to grease your pan well and roll the dough up fairly tightly around the fillings for best results. (But it's okay if they don't look perfect when they go into the pan!) 

Favorite Pizza Rolls (with Veggies)

Strawberry Smoothie with Veggies

With simple ingredients, six flavor variations, and one easy method, this Strawberry Smoothie recipe is a nutritious breakfast or snack.

Strawberry Smoothie with Veggies

Easy Broccoli Pesto (for Pasta and Pizza)

This will likely make enough for two meals. You can freeze the leftovers for a future meal. (This recipe was updated to improve the taste and method in April 2019.)

Easy Broccoli Pesto (for Pasta and Pizza)

Kids Meal Ideas: Day 2

Sub in yogurt with homemade granola if that’s easier for you to pull together for breakfast. The muffins work well to make ahead and stash in the fridge to use throughout the week (and into the freezer for future weeks).

• Breakfast: Overnight Oats with Berries
• Morning Snack: Spinach Banana Muffin (add milk as needed)
• Lunch: Deconstructed turkey and cheese sandwich, fruit and veggie
• Afternoon Snack: Strawberry Applesauce
• Dinner: 30-Minute Lentil Soup with Cornbread Muffin or crackers

TIP: If your kiddo is hungrier for afternoon snack, add something else to go with the applesauce such as cereal for kids, crackers, or a cheese stick.

Recipes to Try

Overnight Oats with Yogurt and Berries

This overnight oats recipe makes two toddler-size breakfast portions (or 1 mama-size serving). Double it to make additional servings. 

Overnight Oats with Yogurt and Berries

Sweet Spinach Muffins with Banana

These healthy spinach muffins taste like a delicious banana muffin, but with the added nutrition of a big handful of spinach. These store well, so you can make them ahead of time and pull them out of the fridge or freezer to serve.

Sweet Spinach Muffins with Banana

Easy Strawberry Applesauce

You can use any type of apple you like in this recipe.

Easy Strawberry Applesauce

Favorite Vegetarian Lentil Soup

With a quick method and a variety of vegetables packed into the soup, this vegetarian Lentil Soup is a perfect weeknight family dinner—especially when you're craving comfort food.

Favorite Vegetarian Lentil Soup

Easy Cornbread Muffins

Moist and nutritious, these healthy cornmeal muffins are an easy side, quick breakfast, or yummy snack.

Easy Cornbread Muffins

Kids Meal Ideas: Day 3

Add 1/2-1 cup of milk to each main meal if desired to round out the nutrients in the day. (It’s okay if your child doesn’t love or drink milk though. They just need 2-3 servings of dairy a day to meet their calcium needs.)

• Breakfast: Baked French Toast, banana
• Morning Snack: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls
• Lunch: Mac and cheese with Peas, berries, clementine, pepperoni
• Afternoon Snack: Strawberry Muffin (add milk if needed)
• Dinner: Baked Chicken Tenders with Cheesy Rice and melon

TIP: Sub in freezer waffles or toast for the French Toast if that’s easier for you!

Recipes to Try

Baked Banana French Toast Sticks

You can use any sliced bread that you like. I typically use whole grain or sourdough. You can also bake full slices of bread, then cut into sticks with kitchen scissors. See Notes for allergy-substitutions.

Baked Banana French Toast Sticks

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls

These no-bake bites taste like a cross between oatmeal raisin and peanut butter cookie dough. I use natural creamy peanut butter (like the kind from Smuckers), and it works really well.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls

Healthy Strawberry Muffins

With fresh berries and a burst of lemon, these healthy Strawberry Muffins are a delicious and nutritious breakfast or snack to share with the kids.

Healthy Strawberry Muffins

Easy Baked Chicken Tenders

These crispy Chicken Tenders are fast and versatile. To make these with panko breadcrumbs, use 1 cup and stir ¼ teaspoon salt into the flour before you dredge the chicken.

Easy Baked Chicken Tenders

Easy Cheesy Rice (with Veggies!)

This Cheesy Rice recipe has four options to add in veggies and has been a staple of my family's diet for a few years now. It's SO easy and versatile—and stores wonderfully in the fridge. And it's downright delish!

Easy Cheesy Rice (with Veggies!)

Kids Meal Ideas: Day 4

If you want to try a genius shortcut for the eggs, try making eggs in the microwave!

• Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, berries, milk
• Morning Snack: Cheese crackers recipe (you can do store bought if you prefer), banana
• Lunch: Veggie Hummus, crackers, sliced peach, carrot ribbons
• Afternoon Snack: Cereal for kids, fruit, and milk or water
• Dinner: Bean and Cheese Quesadillas, zucchini, applesauce

TIP: I try to make veggies taste good to me before I serve them to my kids, so add seasoning, sauces, and dips as needed to make sure they are yummy!

Recipes to Try

How to Make Eggs in the Microwave

You can season the cooked egg with a little salt, butter or cheese if you’d like, but it’s very good as is. See the Note about the heat setting when cooking in a microwave.

How to Make Eggs in the Microwave

Easy Cheese Crackers Recipe

Mix up this easy-to-work-with cracker dough, then let the kids help roll and cut their way to the yummiest homemade cheese crackers recipe. These crackers have whole grains and a delightfully crisp texture. So good!

Easy Cheese Crackers Recipe

Easy Beet Hummus

This brightly colored hummus is a delicious spread for crackers, toast, or sandwiches. Or it can be served as a dip. You can omit the tahini if needed for an allergy.

Easy Beet Hummus

Vegetarian Quesadillas with Beans and Cheese

You can make as few or as many of these easy quesadillas as you like.

Vegetarian Quesadillas with Beans and Cheese

Kids Meal Ideas: Day 5

You can make the oatmeal cups ahead, or try this Blueberry Baked Oatmeal that’s a great breakfast for the whole family.

• Breakfast: Baked Oatmeal Cups; avocado, banana
• Morning Snack: Healthy Breakfast Bar, fruit
• Lunch: Snack plate and milk or water
• Afternoon Snack: Mango Smoothie with Yogurt
• Dinner: Lentils and rice, melon, cucumbers

TIP: Add a simple snack before bed if needed.

Recipes to Try

Baked Oatmeal Cups

Transform plain oats into a yummy and easy-to-eat finger food with this baked oatmeal cups recipe. You can double the recipe to make more if desired.

Baked Oatmeal Cups

Healthy Breakfast Bars with Jam

Use Sunbutter to make these nut-free. You can cut these into smaller bars if desired. If you want them a little softer, serve them at room temperature rather than chilled.

Healthy Breakfast Bars with Jam

Easy Snack Dinner (to Share with the Kids!)

You can do a big family-style platter or individual ones for the kids depending on your preference. Add anything else that sounds appealing and know that the nutrition info will vary according to what you use.

Easy Snack Dinner (to Share with the Kids!)

Favorite Mango Smoothie Recipe

This fresh Mango Smoothie is thin enough to drink through a straw and thick enough to eat with a spoon. And of course, it's super creamy!

Favorite Mango Smoothie Recipe

One-Pot Lentils and Rice

Serve this easy family meal with optional toppings according to what everyone likes.

One-Pot Lentils and Rice

Kids Meal Ideas: Day 6

I like to make a batch of healthy muffins for kids every week or so to make sure I always have some in the freezer for quick snacks.

• Breakfast: Apple Raisin Oatmeal and milk
• Morning Snack: Vegan Banana Muffin
• Lunch: Grilled Cheese with Mashed Butternut Squash, Roasted Broccoli, canned fruit in 100% fruit juice
• Afternoon Snack: Yogurt and cucumber slices
• Dinner: Stir Fry Noodles and veggies, pineapple

TIP: You can quickly cut up noodles for kids with a pair of kitchen shears.

Recipes to Try

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal with Raisins

You can double this recipe to make a larger batch to warm up and serve throughout the week.

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal with Raisins

Sugar-Free Banana Muffins

Be sure to use very ripe bananas (with lots of brown spots!) for the best flavor and natural sweetness. (I updated this recipe December 2020 to ensure the most reliable results. The original version of this recipe is the “Egg-free” option in the Notes if you loved that. In the main recipe, I reduced the oil, added an egg, increased the baking soda a smidge, and reduced the baking time. They’re great!)

Sugar-Free Banana Muffins

Veggie Grilled Cheese Sandwich (to Share with the Kids)

With just 4 ingredients, including a veggie that blends right in, this Veggie Grilled Cheese Sandwich is a yummy kids lunch to share. It packs extra nutrition in the filling, yet only takes a few minutes to make. Such a great easy meal!

Veggie Grilled Cheese Sandwich (to Share with the Kids)

20-Minute Stir Fry Noodles

Try this quick family dinner the next time you're craving fresh comfort food—and want to please the entire family! You can add a protein to this dish if you'd like. See the Notes for options.

20-Minute Stir Fry Noodles

Kids Meal Ideas: Day 7

Green smoothies are a great way to add a lot of nutrients to a snack. Serve it in a cup or a reusable pouch.

• Breakfast: Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies and berries and milk or water
• Morning Snack: Green Smoothie for Kids
• Lunch: Deconstructed Kids Salad and fruit
• Afternoon Snack: Chocolate Protein Muffin with milk or water
• Dinner: Instant Pot Butter Chicken, rice, naan with Roasted Zucchini

TIP: Add a side of fruit to dinner if needed/preferred.

Recipes to Try

Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

You can use peanut butter, almond butter, or Sunbutter in this recipe. Choose creamy unsweetened if possible.

Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

Simple Green Smoothie

Frozen bananas give the smoothie a creamy, naturally sweet base, though you can make this with a fresh banana as long as the other fruit is frozen. It’s easy to add whatever berries or fruit you have on hand, so customize it for your kiddo. 

Simple Green Smoothie

How to Make Kids Salad (They’ll Actually Want to Eat)

Here’s a look at basic templates for making kid-friendly salads. Pick and choose the ingredients you like! (Nutrition info will vary according to the ingredients you use.)

How to Make Kids Salad (They’ll Actually Want to Eat)

Chocolate Protein Muffins (With Veggies!)

These simple blender muffins pack a serious nutrition punch and are dairy-free, with a nut-free option. I prefer the flavor of these once they are fully cooled and chilled in the fridge.

Chocolate Protein Muffins (With Veggies!)

Easy Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Forget takeout—deliver this popular Indian dish to your table instead. Shredded chicken thighs are coated in a rich, buttery sauce with hints of tomatoes, ginger, and garam masala—a messy but very flavorful finger food. Adapted from The Multi-Cooker Baby Food Cookbook.

Easy Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Sample Kids Meal Plan

If you’re struggling with when to offer foods and how to time them around activities and snacks, this sample toddler meal plan will help to give you some ideas.

Tips for Making Family Meals Work for Everyone

Learn more about my overall approach to feeding kids—yet serve the same meal to everyone at the table—in this post on the Division of Responsibility. 

Happy Family Meals

My full service meal planning system, Happy Family Meals, is here to take some of the work out of feeding your family. It’s an easy to use 4-week meal plan with menus, grocery lists, and helpful hints.

It contains weekly menus built on “themes” so you can easily make your own meal plans in future weeks. It’s so helpful for streamlining family meals.

Related Recipes

Advice

1 Year Old Feeding Schedule

Breakfast

21 Healthy Toddler Breakfast Ideas

Dinner

25 Easy Toddler Dinners (Make-Ahead)

Breakfast

Baby Breakfast Ideas (Easy and Nutritious)

I’d love to hear what your toddler’s favorite meal is right now—or which meal gives you the biggest trouble!

This post was first published August 2018.