How to Meal Prep with Toddlers
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Meal prepping is a great way to save time when it comes to feeding your family— especially when you have toddlers! Planning and preparing meals ahead of time will ensure your family is getting healthy, nutritious meals throughout the week, without spending too much time in the kitchen. Here are some tips on how to meal prep as a family with toddlers:
Involve your toddlers in the meal prep process.
Toddlers love to help and feel included, so try to involve them in the meal prep process as much as possible using Maple. This can be as simple as having them help wash vegetables or stir ingredients together. Not only will this help them develop important life skills, but it will also make them more likely to eat the meals you prepare.
Choose recipes that are toddler-friendly.
When meal prepping, it's important to choose recipes that are not only healthy but also toddler-friendly. Like this free Toddler Meal Plan! This means recipes that are easy to eat, not too spicy o r flavorful, and have ingredients that toddlers are familiar with. Some good examples include homemade chicken nuggets, baked sweet potato fries, and mini quiches.
Make mealtime fun.
Toddlers can be picky eaters, so it's important to make mealtime fun and engaging. This can be as simple as arranging food into fun shapes or making a game out of trying new foods. By making mealtime enjoyable, your toddler will be more likely to eat what's on their plate.
Prep in advance.
To make meal planning easier, try to prep as much as you can in advance. Using a household planning app makes meal planning much simpler.
Prepping in advance also means washing and chopping vegetables, marinating meats, and even pre-cooking some of the ingredients. By doing this, you can save a lot of time during the week and make mealtime less stressful.
Use storage containers.
To keep your meals organized and easy to grab during the week, use storage containers. You can use these to store pre-cut vegetables, cooked meats, and even entire meals. This will make it easy to grab and go during busy mornings or when you're in a rush.
Stick to a schedule.
When meal prepping as a family with toddlers, it's important to stick to a schedule. This means planning out meals for the week, prepping them in advance, and storing them in containers in the fridge or freezer. By sticking to a schedule, you'll be less likely to resort to unhealthy takeout or fast food during busy nights.
Meal planning as a family with toddlers can be a great way to save time, money, and stress during the week and can ensure that your family is getting healthy, nutritious meals without sacrificing too much time or effort.