What My Plant-Based Toddler Eats (Realistic Meals)
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Hi friends!
If you are looking for real-life plant-based toddler meals, you’re in luck. I am sharing what this actually looked like in our home throughout the years – no aesthetic, just simple and easy meals to fill those little bellies.
I’ve organized each set by age so feel free to hop around. I hope that this snapshot is helpful and inspires a few meals at your own kitchen table. They certainly aren’t perfect, but it is what worked for us. 💚🌿
Some kind of minestrone-ish pasta I whipped up quickly on top of some toast and avocado.Red lentil + quinoa chili with avocado.Corn and bean patty, mashed potatoes, peas.Pasta with coconut lentil sauce.Corn and potato chowder with some toasted wheat bread.Kidney bean + chickpea patty, peas and rice, sweet potato.Veggie lasagna and peas.Pesto and sweet potatoes.Quesadilla, olives, and tomatoes.Freeze-dried peach slices for snack.Vegan shepherd’s pie.Tempeh, mixed veggies, and mashed potatoes.Minestrone soup with avocado.More Tofutti cream cheese and tomato toast with a side of corn/sweet potatoes, and a bit of leftover veggie burger.Pancakes with syrup, bananas, and strawberries.Half eaten rice and beans, sweet potatoes, corn, tortilla…Annie’s vegan mac and cheese and some veggies.Pancake breakfast for the whole fam! Chocolate chip, obviously.Minestrone over rice and butternut squash.Almond butter toast with banana and strawberries.Really random things… leftovers. Pasta e fagioli, squash, and tofu.Cherrios with coconut milk and banana.Pasta with some earth balance butter and squash.Bean + corn quesadilla with some sweet potato and grapes.Green pasta with sweet potato fries.Tempeh, mashed potatoes, and peas.Baked tofu bites, sweet potato, and strawberries.
Meals at 15-17 Months
Blueberry pancakes with a side of raspberries and pears.Pasta with peas, sweet potato fries, and olives. Kid loves olives.Cream cheese + tomato toast sticks with a side of blackberries and bananas.Tofu scramble with zucchini and onion, some toast sticks, blackberries, and banana.White bean salad sandwich bites, olives, sweet potato.Chickpea noodle soup over some toast with a side of sweet potato.Chocolate oats mixed with almond butter with berries and banana.Blueberry pancakes, blackberries, and pears.Baked mac and cheese with a side of green beans… which she did not enjoy.Roasted chickpeas, peas, and squash.Tofu and zucchini scramble, toast, and strawberries.Blueberry pancakes, hashbrown bits, and some pears.Gnocchi with gravy, meatballs, and some peas.Tofutti cream cheese toast sticks with a bit of seeds, pineapple, and bananas.PB toast, mandarins, blackberries.Chocolate oats with peanut butter and mandarin oranges.Seasoned white beans, vegan cheese, and some broccoli.Pancakes with yogurt, blueberries, and banana.
Meals at 18-20 Months
PB&J with sweet potato fries.Tortilla with mashed avocado, roasted cauliflower, sweet potato.PB & banana toast with cinnamon. Mango, bananas.Vegan cream cheese and tomato sandwich. Sweet potato fries and mushrooms.Baked tofu bites, broccoli, sweet potato fries.Vegan pad thai for dinner.Cream cheese + everything bagel seasoning on whole wheat, bananas, kiwi.Black beans and quinoa, some vegan cheese (chao brand), and sweet potato fries.Blueberry pancakes with some coconut yogurt to dip. Some cantaloupe, mango, and kiwi.Vegan grilled cheese, broccoli, corn, sweet potato fries.Vegan cream cheese and sweet potato sandwich. Mashed potatoes and broccoli.Mac and cheese (cheese recipe here) with broccoli.Avocado toast, blueberries, banana.Mac and cheese, sweet potato fries, avocado, and one single tomato because she does not like them but I keep offering, lol!Pasta with peas and some bread with earth balance (she was getting over a virus, so we kept it simple).Black beans, sweet potato mash, and corn.Vegan grilled cheese, pickles, avocado.More avocado toast, blueberries, and banana.Pancakes with strawberries and almond butter, side of banana.Smoothie with strawberries, cashews, coconut yogurt, banana.Tofu scramble, toast with earth balance butter, and berries.Vegan cream cheese sticks with everything bagel seasoning, strawberries, avocado.A homemade vegan cheese-filled doughboy, corn ear, bean and avocado salad, and some potato.Tofu scramble with zucchini and onions, blackberries, and toast with earth balance.
Meals at 21-Months
Beans and zucchini with tortilla rolls filled with hummus.This is as fancy as I’ll get during snack time – bananas, grapes, raisins. She also had a green smoothie on the side.Quesadilla with lots of hidden veggies (lol), broccoli, and olives. She did not eat broccoli.Nooch mac and cheese, black beans (which ended up on the floor) and mushrooms (which she inhaled first).Some kind of peanut butter oats and a side of banana.Almond butter toast with some raisins, banana, and pear.Oats with blueberries, almond butter, and flaxseed. Side of kiwi.Tofu scramble with spinach and some guacamole. Vegan chik’n sandwich bits with ketchup, mushrooms, pickles, and corn on the cob.Chik’n and vegan cheese quesadilla, guacamole, steamed carrots. She hates carrots, but I keep offering anyways.English muffin with almond butter, banana, and raisins… she kept saying “Hi Bear!” LOL side of banana and pears.Cream of mushroom pasta.Toast with vegan cream cheese, avocado, and everything bagel seasoning. Side of avocado, banana, strawberries. Quesadilla with sweet potato, chik’n, and vegan cheese, olives, avocado, rice and corn.A spinach pie with some olives and peas.Avocado toast sticks, strawberries, and kiwi.Blueberry pancakes with soy yogurt, strawberries, and banana.Vegan cheese quesadilla, avocado, roasted red peppers, sweet potato, spaghetti squash.
Meals at 21-24 Months
Tofu scramble with zucchini, onion, and spinach. Side of guac, toast, and blueberries.A vegan chicken salad sandwich (I used Gardein chickenless strips), broccoli (she does not like but I keep trying), and sweet potato mash.Avocado toast sticks, bananas, and berries.Vegan grilled cheese, guacamole (she didn’t eat), and blackberries.Tofu bites, rice with avocado, and roasted sweet potatoes.Roasted chickpeas, sweet potato mash, olives.Avocado and cream cheese toast, watermelon, oranges.Green donuts! Recipe here – I made some substitutes… flax egg instead of egg and coconut sugar instead of maple syrup. Willow loved them.Hummus pinwheels, red roasted peppers, baked tofu, and sweet potato.Avocado and vegan cream cheese toast with a side of strawberries.Hummus and avocado pinwheels, sweet potato fries, sautéed mushrooms (her favorite) and the last bit of avocado.Chickpea pasta with a lentil sauce. Such a great iron-rich lunch for toddlers. Willow ate every bite!Carrot cake oats. She loves this.Willow and I shared this chocolate chip banana bread.Bean, corn, + vegan cheese quesadilla, guacamole, and baked sweet potatoes.Fruit salad for snack.Cream cheese toast with everything bagel seasoning, roasted red peppers, and olives.Vegan grilled cheese sticks, roasted red peppers, and sweet potatoes.
Toast with vegan cream cheese and jam, side of berries and pears.Vegan cream cheese toast with blueberries and orange slices.Chickpea salad sandwich with a side of peas and some curried potatoes (I only gave a little to see how she liked it… she ate it but didn’t want more).Blueberry muffins! She snacked on these sparingly and I froze some, too.Homemade popsicles! Fruit, yogurt, and kale.What a horrible pic, lol. But some spaghetti and bread and butter. She already ate half of the bread by the time I took the pic.Tofu scramble with lots of nutritional yeast and turmeric, blueberries, and toast with butter and jam.Tofu and spinach quiche! She loooved these – recipe here. Side of rosemary fries and ketchup to dip.Snacking on banana and these graham crackers I dipped in soy yogurt and froze. She loved them.More quiche for breakfast, blueberries, and toast with Earth Balance butter.Cinnamon apples with yogurt to dip. Lentil stew with couscous. She loves this lately.Avocado toast with strawberries.Tofu scramble with zucchini and onion, plums, berries, and toast.Pizza night with some olives, green beans (still trying them… she does not like), and pickles. Very random, I know.Vegan cream cheese sandwich with corn from the cob, broccoli, and pickles.Tofu, spinach, & mushroom quiche with a side of mashed avocado, berries, and banana. PB&J with a side of pears.Vegan cheese quesadilla, rice and peas, side of hummus.I made lentil sloppy joe filling but wasn’t sure she would like in a sandwich so I served it two ways… one in a bun and one with cashew cream in a bowl. She gravitated toward the soup but also picked at the bread. Side of veggies with earth balance butter.Pasta tossed with artichoke hearts, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and olives. Side of mandarin oranges and sweet potato fries. She did not like this pasta a bit, lol. But hey, we tried.Lentil soup with rice and a side of bread & butter.Couscous with teriyaki tofu, edamame, and broccoli, side of avocado and mandarin oranges. She wasn’t a fan of the tofu this way.Lentil soup over couscous! She loves it.Pancakes with blueberries.Hummus sandwich with a side of avocado and strawberries.More lentil soup, bread, and a side of hummus and tortilla.Special K with berries and a side of mango. She loves cereal but we usually don’t have it unless its the weekend. Just a little treat!Spinach tofu quiche with a side of strawberries and mandarin oranges.Peanut butter and banana roll-ups with a side of peaches.Roasted cauliflower, couscous, baked potato, and corn. She didn’t like the couscous but… exposure.A tofu turmeric soup – similar recipe here.Chunky monkey oats, which is just oats mixed with banana, peanut butter, cinnamon, and some ground flax. She loves this.Bean & cheese burrito with a side of rice and corn, cucumber & cream cheese sandwiches.Peaches and cream yogurt for us both – just oats made with coconut milk. I mixed in ground flaxseed, maple syrup, and diced peaches. Topped with soy yogurt.Black bean taco, guac, and apple sauce.Chocolate pudding and graham crackers for a little treat.Vegan chik’n with ketchup , sweet potatoes, rice with veggies, and applesauce.Vegan grilled cheese, peas with butter and nutritional yeast, and apple sauce.Lentil bolognese sauce over elbows, harvest peas, sliced apples.Eggplant parm and pasta. One of her faves.Avocado toast, banana, and blueberries. She had about 3-4 serving of blueberries… she can’t get enough.Vans blueberry waffles with syrup to dip. Coconut yogurt with chia and peaches.Cashew sauce & veggies with red lentil spaghetti, bread with butter, and annie’s bunny crackers. I’ve been serving some sweets with dinner sometimes to avoid putting dessert on a pedestal. She actually ate her spaghetti first, then bread, then the crackers without any instruction. I was proud of her! PB&J, peaches, and veggie straws,.
Meals for 2.5-Year Old
Nachos with black beans, corn, vegan queso, and salsa. Side of rice and corn and fruit cocktail.Tofu scramble, toast with Earth Balance butter, and berries.Peanut butter and banana sandwich, mashed sweet potato, and cucumbers with hummus.Pita bread with hummus, avocado, and leftover tofu scramble.“Green dinosaur smoothie” – spinach, banana, pineapple, peaches, chia seeds, yogurt, and fresh orange juice.Mashed avocado on a bagel, oranges, and blueberries.Pesto shells made with kale, avocado, and grapes.Gardein chik’n tenders with mayo/ketchup dipping sauce, carrots, and grapes.Broccoli and cheddar tofu quiche, avocado, and blueberries.Gardein chik’n tenders with ketchup, strawberries, and potato & cauliflower mash.Pasta salad, the last tofu stick (leftover), and strawberries.White bean salad wrap, black beans, and peas. I know that is not a lot of variety but that is what we had to work with today, lol.Strawberry & coconut milk popsicles.Lasagna soup, blueberries, and animal crackers.Homemade rice krispies treats made with Dandies marshmallows.Hodge podge of a platter – crackers with hummus, raspberries, blueberries, black beans, guac, broccoli dipped in vegan ranch for exposure, some vegan tofurky meat, and a blueberry yogurt.Cashew mac & cheese, watermelon, and broccoli for exposure.Chik’n noodle soup, apple slices, avocado, and some bread & butter to dip in her soup.Chocolate chip pancakes, mandarin oranges, and coconut yogurt with a little granola.Pasta e fagioli, leftover chik’n, and olives.Vegan grilled cheese with a side of peaches and a couple kashi snacks.Hummus sandwich, blueberry and chia pudding, strawberries.Vegan cheese quesadilla, side of taco filling, fries with ketchup/vegan mayo, and applesauce.Pancakes with coconut oil and syrup, leftover tofu quiche, and apple slices.Strawberry banana coconut yogurt with chia, toast with coconut oil, and 1/2 banana.Pasta with a fast red sauce, olives, and applesauce.Blueberry and chia yogurt, english muffin with coconut oil and jam, and mango.Vegan chik’n with some mayo/ketchup to dip, couscous, and bbq veggies. Cashew mac and cheese, crackers and hummus, grapes.Hashbrown, avocado, coconut strawberry yogurt with chia seeds, and grapes.Cheerio treats! I shared the recipe for these on my IG.Vegan grilled cheese, roasted sweet potatoes, and date & almond butter brownies.Lentil soup with couscous, roasted sweet potatoes, apple sauce.Mini bagel with peanut butter, strawberries, and tofu & spinach quiche.Blueberry waffle, hash brown, and oranges.Cinnamon & coconut sugar oats made with soy milk and ground flax, side of pears and pb to dip.Strawberry banana coconut yogurt with chia seeds, blueberry muffin, and grapes.Bean & cheese quesadilla with vegan queso to dip, corn, tomatoes, black beans, and roasted sweet potatoes.Kale pesto, avocado, and escarole and beans.
Meals for 3-Year Old
PB&J, strawberry coconut yogurt, and carrots.Potato, chickpea, and pea curry, corn, and oranges.Red bean, cheese,and salsa burrito with a side of corn and strawberries.Snack time! Orange slices, raisins, and a graham cracker dipped in yogurt & sprinkles (frozen).Bolognese (made with TVP), carrots, and a Nature’s Bakery brownie.Crackers with guac. She ate almost a whole avocado with thirds of the dip.“Cheesy” tofu sticks (baked with nutritional yeast) with ketchup/just mayo dip, strawberries, and sweet potato.PB&J, grapes, strawberry, and red lentil snap crisps.Nachos with vegan queso, refried beans, olives, and salsa. Side of cinnamon pears, olives, and some squash for exposure.PB&J, peaches, raisins, and cucumbers with vegan cream cheese.Tofu quiche with ketchup, avocado, and berries.Burrito with mashed black beans, corn, vegan cheese, and avocado, sliced apples, and raisins.English muffin & vegan cheese sandwich, side cukes for exposure, grapes, and nature’s bakery fig bar.Spaghetti with a red lentil sauce and nooch, cinnamon apples, and white beans.Pancakes, cinnamon apples, and some leftover tofu scramble.
Meals for 3-YO & 16-MO Old
Peanut ramen noodles with s side of sweet potato, apples, and a red pepper for exposure.Pasta with red sauce, pears, and a muffin for Willow. Fiona has mandarin oranges instead of a pear.Oats with cashew cream, ground walnuts, and blueberries. Banana on the side.Vegan grilled cheese, peas, and applesauce.Vegan mac & cheese, tofu sticks, apples, and grapes.Just Egg (my girls love it), toast with Earth Balance butter, and strawberries.Oats with cinnamon, peanut butter, and ground flaxseed and a mango & spinach smoothie.PB&J, raisins, cucumbers, soy peach yogurt, cooked carrots, and snap peas for exposure. Newsflash, she did not enjoy them. lolVegan chik’n patty on a roll with vegan mayo and ketchup, grapes, and chocolate chia pudding with coconut whip.Oats with peanut butter, ground flax, and blueberries.Same as Willow above.Kale pesto pasta, peas, and blueberries.Oats with cashew cream and jammy berries. Some banana on the side.Homemade vegan cheese pizza, blueberries, strawberries, avocado, and tomato.
🌼For more information on plant-based kids nutrition, you may love:
Life and Chex cereal with soy milk, berries, and oatmeal breakfast cookies.Fiona has the same but bananas.Lentil soup over toast, guac, and blackberries.Tofu veggie quiche, blackberries, and bananas.Red lentil pasta with mashed white bean sauce, pears, and roasted cauliflower.Chocolate chickpea pancakes, blueberries, and bananas. We love this recipe!Red lentil pasta, raisins, peas, and avocado.Oatmeal with a bit of maple syrup and blueberries. We call this “Daniel Tiger Oats” ;)Baked tofu sticks with ketchup/vegan mayo dip, broccoli cheddar soup, roasted sweet potatoes, avocado, and some brown rice for Willow.Blueberry muffins, strawberries, and soy yogurt.Chik’n noodle soup, pears, and leftover pancakes from breakfast.Pasta salad, avocado, and mango.
