We all have our ‘hits’: those best toddler foods or favored ingredients we return to again and again. We–or our children, for that matter–wouldn’t survive without them.
But it’s also true that we need workhorses–ingredients that are both palatable to a small child and provide the nutrition for which we are looking. These are the tastes, textures, and colors your child looks for (or at least approves of); these are the easy and flexible ingredients you can add, blend, or hide in basically anything. That’s what makes the best toddler foods: ones that can both be eaten on their own and easily mixed into other dishes. The ones that can do that can work in anything–or any meal.
Now, these best toddler foods may not be for everyone; they may not be for every occasion. But they are ones I continue to find uses for month after month, even as my child’s tastes change; they, too, never are absent from my pantry or refrigerator.
- Bananas: Obviously. Can be introduced almost immediately when starting solids; will continue to be a favored fruit through toddlerdom and childhood. Use them in pancakes for both infants and toddlers, as part of the base for smoothies and overnight oats and acai bowls, and your tot’s first cookies; you can even run them into tacos and other savory dishes.
- Spinach: more than simply a nutritional powerhouse, its form and neutral flavor means you can put it in anything: smoothies, baked goods, meats, dips, and even other vegetables.
- Cottage Cheese: the go-to when you want to add protein and create fluffy textures. Not a fan? Not to worry: once mixed or blended, its texture is more creamy than curd-y. Try it in eggs, pancakes, bread, dips, overnight oats, and more.
- Pumpkin: Any squash or gourd could fill in nicely here–namely butternut, acorn, and delicata–but the thing about pumpkin is that it’s widely available in canned and puree form, saving you a few cooking steps. When softened and smoothed, these gourds offer natural sweetness, a good amount of iron and potassium, and a lot of creaminess–that makes them an easy and enriching add to treats (i.e., blondies, energy balls), stews and sauces (i.e., curry, chili), or even breakfast. Great roasted on its own, too!
- Avocados: The same level of utility player bananas are, just less sweet. You can run these as guacamole, of course, and on toast; but did you know you can also make desserts with it? Integrate it into a burger or bread? Make a bright green soup with it? Lots of different ways to incorporate this super food in your savories.
