The Best Toddler Lunch Idea Ever 🥐
No one is going to accuse or mistake this one for healthy, but if you’re looking for an instant classic at lunchtime, something your kid will not only want but ask for (and multiple times a week), this is your huckleberry. Croissant? Check. Cooked French toast style? Check? A cream cheese-and-jelly sando variant of what you likely ate growing up? Oh yeah. Hits all the kiddo dopamine marks, this one: sweet, creamy, crispy. It’s the one. Best toddler lunch ever.
You know that ultra-simple sandwich you grew up on—warm, soft, just sweet enough? That’s exactly what this is, but toddler-approved. It’s a warm croissant with turkey, cream cheese and jelly, and it hits all the right notes:
- Soft and comforting for little hands and mouths
- Slight sweetness to satisfy picky taste buds
- Quick prep—10 minutes and you’re done
- Dad-friendly ingredients and minimal cleanup
This one’s perfect for lunch at home, preschool, or packing along for a park picnic. Prep it fresh, wrap it tight, and let your tiny critic chow down.
Check out our other great sandwich recipes for toddlers!
What You’ll Need To Make The Best Toddler Lunch
- 1 croissant
- 2 slices of deli-thin turkey
- Cream cheese, room temperature, to spread
- Your kid’s favorite jelly or jam (strawberry, grape, apricot—whatever floats their boat)
That’s it! Just three ingredients.
Best Toddler Lunch: Steps Overview
- Warm the croissant — Microwave for ~10 seconds or heat gently in the oven/toaster oven until slightly toasty.
- Spread cream cheese on one side. Let it soften with the warmth.
- Add a layer of jelly over the cream cheese.
- Sandwich it up, slice into toddler-friendly halves or quarters, and serve.
FAQ: Dad-Approved Tips
Q: Can I make this ahead?
Sure—just keep components apart (croissant separate from cream cheese/jelly) and assemble within an hour for best texture.
Q: My kid doesn’t like croissants—substitute?
Go for soft dinner rolls, brioche buns, or even a fluffy pancake—sticking to the cream cheese + jelly intro keeps the vibe. Our toddler’s favorite variant involves making the turkey, jelly, and cream cheese the filling for these french toast roll-ups.
Q: Any healthier add-ons?
Slide in thin apple slices or mashed banana between layers for a touch of fruit without fuss.
Q: Toddler can’t handle warm foods?
Serve the croissant at room temp. Still tasty, just cooler.
The Best Toddler Lunch Idea
Description
No one is going to accuse or mistake this one for healthy, but if you’re looking for an instant classic at lunchtime, something your kid will not only want but ask for (and multiple times a week), this is your huckleberry. Croissant? Check. Cooked French toast style? Check? A cream cheese-and-jelly sando variant of what you likely ate growing up? Oh yeah. Hits all the kiddo dopamine marks, this one: sweet, creamy, crispy. It’s the one.
Ingredients
Instructions
Prep
-
Heat a pan at Medium.
-
In a long and shallow container or on a plate, add in the egg, milk, vanilla extract, and a shake or two of cinnamon; mix until blended.
-
Cut croissant in half horizontally, then place inside-facing side down into egg mixture; press and swirl each croissant half to ensure surface area is coated.
Cook & Assemble
-
Drop a small pat of butter into pan; once it melts and begins to bubble, place the croissant halves inside down onto pan. Press down to ensure
-
Heat until the inside turn the same golden brown color you’d want on French toast, or roughly 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat.
-
While croissants are still warm, smear cream cheese on one side and jelly on the other. Rip turkey slices into shards or shreds and place on top of one side of the sandwich.
-
Smush the two sides together—you want it not only combined but also compressed.
Serve
-
when pressed, the sandwich should be quite compact and easy to eat; you can cut into small squares for individual bites, or serve in larger chunks to provide some practice biting and consuming different sized portions. Because the sandwich is a meal onto itself, keep it light if you do end up serving it with something: cuts of crisp vegetables (carrots, cukes, etc), veggie chips, berries, etc.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 1
Serving Size 1/2 sandwich
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 200kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 11g17%
- Sodium 35mg2%
- Total Carbohydrate 20g7%
- Sugars 2g
- Protein 9g18%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
User Reviews
My son destroyed this thing. Said it was awesome.