30+ HEALTHY Lunch Ideas for 1-Year-Olds
Are you looking for some fun and healthy lunch ideas for your 1-year-old? It can be hard to come up with new lunch ideas that are both healthy and easy to prepare. Today, I’m going to share some of our favorite lunch ideas for 1-year-olds, including options that are both healthy and easy.
What Does a 1 Year Old Lunch Include?
Here are some easy guidelines to help make a healthy lunch for your 1 year old:
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- Include some form of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. A great mix of these foods will ensure your toddler stays full until their next meal or snack.
- Veggie and/or fruit. Personally, I try to include a veggie in each of my toddler’s lunches, but occasionally we just don’t get one in, in which case I make sure a fruit is present.
- It can also help to include a range of different colors and textures to help keep your little one interested. I personally make sure I have one safe food each meal. This is a food I know my little one feels comfortable with and will eat. It does not need to be their favorite food, but something you know won’t cause panic.
- Appropriately cut. – Obviously follow all recommendations for cutting your food properly for 1-year-olds to minimize choking risks.
Easy Lunch Entrees for 1 Year Olds
Now that we’ve gone over some lunchtime basics, let’s get into some lunch ideas for 1 year olds!
1. Quesadilla
I love this lunch idea because it’s so easy to prepare and you can really make it your own with ingredients you have on hand. Plus, it makes a great lunch for mom too. I usually use whole wheat tortillas, cheese, and beans when I make them for lunch but you could throw on leftover or shredded meat as well.
For 1-year-olds, I like to cut the quesadilla into small strips or even bite-size pieces so they can eat it easily.
Serve with: Sour cream or yogurt for dipping + Veggie/Fruit
2. Muffin Tin Lunch
If you read my previous post in this series on best toddler lunch ideas then you know my kids (old & young) love the muffin tin lunch! Simply fill muffin tins with 1 year old appropriate finger foods and watch them have fun!
Muffin Tin Ideas: Cheese, Pepper sticks, cucumber sticks, cut berries or sliced fruit, peanut butter crackers, etc.
3. Meatballs
Make your favorite meatballs and freeze them! Then when it’s time for your toddler’s lunch simply heat them in the oven or toaster oven and you have an easy 1 year old lunch!
Serve with: Pasta, Toast, Veggies/Fruit
4. Easy Pizza Toast or Tortilla Pizza
I love using either whole wheat bread or a whole wheat tortilla for this lunch idea! Simply top with your favorite pizza toppings and cheese then pop it in the oven at 400° until the cheese is melted. So easy and so yummy!
Serve with: Pepper sticks or fruit
5. Tuna Salad on Crackers
My son’s favorite lunch to this day (and when he was 1 year old) is tuna salad. We make a really easy 4 ingredient tuna salad OR sometimes we even simply mix tuna and greek yogurt and he loves it!
Serve with: Crackers (check out some of my favorite toddler crackers), Veggies/fruit
6. Shredded BBQ Chicken
Mix leftover shredded chicken (or Rotisserie chicken) with a no sugar bbq sauce and voilà .
Serve with: fruit or veggie, throw it on some bread and make a sandwich
7. Avocado Toast
Smash some avocado on sprouted, sourdough, or whole grain toast. You can sprinkle with other flavoring depending on your 1 year olds preferences (garlic powder, lemon, etc.)
Serve with: Cheese slices and a fruit or veggie
8. Fish Sticks + Roasted Veggies
Bake some healthier fish sticks along with some roasted veggies for an easy healthy lunch. My favorite healthy fish stick brands for toddlers (that I can find easily) are Dr. Prager’s, Ian’s, and KidFresh.
9. Black Beans + Rice or Corn
When my son was one, black beans were one of his favorite foods!! We would serve them alongside rice, corn, or really any other side we had around. Simply open a can of black beans for a SUPER easy lunch or you can serve leftover beans if you’ve soaked/cooked them from another meal.
10. Greek Yogurt + Dr. Prager’s Kale Littles
My kids love the Dr. Pragers (or very similar Aldi’s brand) Kale/Broccoli Littles. If I’m in need of a quick meal and running out of groceries I almost always have these stocked in the freezer along and can serve them along with Greek yogurt (and any other sides I may have)!
11. (Tomato) Soup + Grilled Cheese
Honestly, any soup makes for a great toddler lunch. I love this tomato soup hack for making a quick homemade tomato soup. However, we also freeze homemade soups and thaw these for lunch sometimes.
12. Hummus Sandwich or Hummus on Toast
Make an easy sandwich with hummus as the filler. You can also top toast with hummus.
13. French Toast Sticks + Yogurt (Dip) + Fruit
This can make a really quick and easy lunch for your 1 year old. I love to use sprouted grain bread, but any whole grain bread works and this easy french toast recipe will ensure there are plenty of eggs per bread to help them get important protein and fat.
Serve with: yogurt for dipping and fruit. Can also spread nut butter on top.
14. Easy Omelette (Cheese, Black Bean, or Leftover Meat)
Omelets are one of those great meals that also help you use up leftovers in a new and creative way. Plus, eggs are a great source of choline which is an important nutrient for toddlers and babies! Add some very small roasted/diced veggies (onion, squash, spinach, broccoli) to boost the nutrient level even more.
Serve with: Fruit or toast
15. Toddler Charcuterie Board
I love creating a lunchtime charcuterie board for my kids. It’s a really easy way to lunch because you can use whatever you have on hand. I use a mix of whatever finger foods I can easily prep or leftovers I have on hand
- Leftover Meat- cut, sliced, pulled, or shredded
- Cheese
- Crackers (see best crackers for toddlers) – Can serve plain or as peanut butter sandwiches
- Mini Muffins or Muffins sliced (I love these no sugar pumpkin muffins for 1 year olds)
- Veggies – Pepper sticks; Cucumber sticks or thinly sliced cucumbers; Tomatoes quartered lengthwise; Leftover roasted veggies (broccoli, thin sliced carrots, etc)
- Sliced Fruits or Berries
16. Cottage Cheese + Fruit
Cottage cheese was definitely one of my daughter’s top picks at age 1. You can serve it with literally anything and it’s a super easy light lunch when you need something fast before nap time.
Serve with: Melon, sliced grapes, blueberries, pineapple, diced pears, kiwi, crackers or a slice of whole-grain bread.
17. Tuna or Salmon Cakes
When I have extra time or have prepped ahead I will make tuna or salmon cakes. Let your 1 year old dip them in yogurt or sour cream.
Serve With: Roasted sweet potatoes or canned green beans
18. Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich
This easy variation of PB&J replaces the jelly with banana making it a better option for 1 year olds. (Read my thoughts on sugar for 1 year olds here.) It’s easy to make and only requires a few ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry.
19. Banana Pancakes + Green Smoothie
Serve these baby and toddler-friendly pancakes with a green smoothie or fruit. Plus, you can make extras and freeze them for an easy breakfast for your 1-year-old.
20. Applegate Chicken Nuggets
Applegate chicken nuggets have minimal added ingredients and are less processed than many traditional chicken nuggets. They can make a fun lunch idea for your 1 year old. I don’t do things like this very often, but when I do I find that my kids really enjoy it.
21. Leftovers!
Best for last because this is a great way to reduce food waste and save yourself time from extra meal prep.
Simply reserve dinner meals or repurpose it creatively. For example, I love to take any leftover fried eggs from my 1 year old’s breakfast, cut them into small pieces, and turn them into kabobs with quartered grape tomatoes and cheese.
Plus, Side & Veggie Ideas for 1 Year Old Lunches
Obviously, a balanced lunch is usually a mixture of a few items for a toddler. Here are some of our go-to sides that your 1 year old will love. Feel free to mix and match these with the entrees above.
- Soft Roasted Veggies – Broccoli, Carrot sticks, Sweet potatoes, peppers, etc
- Frozen Peas
- Avocado, sliced or diced
- Fresh Fruit or Berries – Simply make sure you are cutting fruit appropriately for your child’s age and abilities. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, bananas, thin sliced apple, cuties, kiwi, peaches (canned or fresh) are some of our favorite fruits.
- Yogurt or Greek Yogurt – I only give my 1 year olds plain yogurt no sweetener.
- Cottage cheese
- Crackers
- Toast
- Nut Butters – Spread on other foods such as fruit, toast, crackers, etc.
Lunchbox Ideas for 1 Year Olds at Daycare
Whether you need to pack your 1-year-old a lunch for daycare or preschool lunch bunch, here are some of our favorite ideas. For the most part, you can mix and match ideas from above to come up with a perfect lunchbox for your 1-year-old.
Mix & Match Daycare Lunch Food Ideas
- Cottage cheese/Greek Yogurt + fruit
- Tuna or salmon cakes
- Peanut butter and banana sandwich
- Banana pancakes or French Toast Sticks
- Muffins or mini muffins
- Fruit sliced or cut up into bite size pieces
- Veggies sticks or thinly sliced cucumbers or peppers
- Soup + sandwich (use a thermos to keep it warm)
- Shredded meat + Veggie
- Quesadilla + Sour Cream/Yogurt
- Pizza Toast/English Muffin/Tortilla
My Favorite Lunch Packing Gear for Toddlers
Feeding Essentials for 1-Year-Olds
Ok, here are my top picks for feeding accessories for your 1 Year Old:
Best Toddler Straw Cups (these for home and these for travel or preschool/daycare)
Small Sized Realistic Utensils
Healthy 1 Year Old Lunch
I hope this gives you some ideas for lunch foods for your 1 year old. Remember that all kids are different and will like different things. Just because your child doesn’t like one lunch idea, don’t give up. Try again another day or mix it up with some of their favorite foods.
As always, if you have any questions about what’s appropriate for your toddler’s lunch please refer to your personal pediatrician or dietitian. I’m just sharing my personal experience as a Dietitian Mom. And don’t forget to leave your favorite 1 year old lunch ideas in the comment section below!
Other Resources for Feeding Your 1 Year Old
15 EASY Toddler Breakfast Ideas
26 Healthy Prepackaged Toddler Snacks
FREE Toddler Snack Printable & Grocery List
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