Lunch Ideas For 1 Year Old
Kids are notoriously fussy eaters and once they reach 1 year old, chances are they are starting to discover exactly what foods they like and dislike. This can make trying to get them to eat their 5-a-day or anything remotely nutritious somewhat of a nightmare. With these healthy and easy to make lunch ideas for 1 year old, mealtimes should be a breeze (emphasis on should). Happy cooking!
Lunch Ideas For 1 Year Old
1. Lunch Ideas For 1 Year Old: Oven-baked fish fingers (and peas/mixed Veg)
This one is sure to go down a treat with your little one and is one of the best lunch ideas for 1 year old! Fish fingers are high in omega-3 which is great for brain development. They are super yummy too so hopefully, they won’t mind eating the peas or veg!
Ingredients:
- 380g skinless fish fillets (such as sole, flounder, tilapia or other firm white fish)
- 5 tbsp plain flour
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 20g dried breadcrumbs (normal)
- 20g panko breadcrumbs (Japanese breadcrumbs), refer to photo at the right
- 20g Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp paprika
- Pinch of salt
- Dash of freshly ground black pepper
Method:
Start by preheating your oven to 200°C.
Pat the fish dry with a paper towel and cut into strips (roughly 1/2 inch thick x ¾ inch width). Season with some salt and pepper as you see fit.
Set up 3 bowls (even plates or small pan sheets are possible) which are a suitable size for coating the strips.
The first bowel is for flour.
The second bowel is for the egg. You will need to crack an egg and whisk well and add a little bit (eg ¼ tsp) of milk or water to dilute the beaten egg if you wish.
The third bowel is for the breadcrumb mixture. Mix breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, paprika, garlic powder and black pepper together until well-combined.
Toss each strip in the flour and shake off any excess.
Next, you will want to dip the strip into the egg mixture and allow extra egg liquid to drip back into the bowl.
Coat the strip with the breadcrumb mixture and lightly press the strip into the crumbs to make sure it is completely covered. Allow it to stand for about 5-10 minutes.
Prepare a baking sheet and brush or spray some oil onto it.
Lay out the strips in a single layer on the prepared baking tray. Lightly put on some oil to cover the strips.
Bake for about 8-10 minutes or until the crumbs are golden brown and the fish is cooked through (eg flakes easily). Make sure to turn halfway through baking. You may want to make some adjustments to the baking time depending on the thickness of the fillet. Do not overcook the fish as it will be dry and hard.
Move over to serving plates and allow to cool slightly before serving.
Dip in some ketchup, sweet chilli sauce or tartar sauce for maximum tastiness!
2. Lunch Ideas For 1 Year Old: Sweet potato, lentil & rice balls (30 balls)
This super delicious lunch also makes for the perfect snack for you and your little one too! It is very easy to make and yields around 30 balls to munch on!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup roasted sweet potato
- 1 cup cooked brown rice (or white rice is ok, too)
- 1/2 cup grated cheese
- 1/4 cup cooked brown lentils (I use tinned – give them a good rinse)
- 1 tbsp tomato chutney (or beetroot relish is also good)
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (or gluten-free breadcrumbs are good, too)
- Spray oil
Method:
Begin by preheating your oven to 180C.
Line a large oven tray with baking paper.
Mash the cooked sweet potato in a large bowl and evenly mix in the rice, lentils, chutney, and cheese.
Separate into balls and roll the mixture, making sure to coat in the breadcrumbs. Place on the tray.
Spray them with some oil and bake for about 20-25 minutes. Make sure to turn once during cooking and give them an extra spray of oil halfway through.
3. Lunch Ideas for 1 year old: Spinach Nuggets
Getting your 1-year-old to eat spinach or any veg is a nightmare, but with these nuggets, it doesn’t have to be. They are chock-full of nutrients and are also very easy to make.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup almonds
- 1/2 large handfuls fresh baby spinach
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat breadcrumbs, divided
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup flaxseed meal
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 cup shredded cheese (any kind will be fine)
Method:
Note: If you don’t have a food processor, you can do the chopping by hand. Just chop everything very finely.
1. Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees and finely grease a cookie sheet.
2. Put the almonds in a food processor until they are a fine crumb.
3. Add the spinach and finely chop until you have a green crumb-like mixture. Set this aside.
4. You then need to whisk the two eggs in a medium-sized bowl and add the spinach-almond mixture, 1/2 cup of the breadcrumbs, flaxseed, basil, oregano, and cheese. Make sure to mix well!
5. Place the remaining cup of breadcrumbs in a small bowl and using your hands, form a small portion of the spinach mixture into a ball and roll it in the breadcrumbs until it is fully coated. Press it into a nugget shape and place it on the baking sheet. Repeat until all the mixture is used up.
6. Bake for about 18-25 minutes, turning the nuggets over halfway through the baking time.
7. Allow to cool and serve.
4. Lunch Ideas for 1 year old: One-Skillet Fried Cauliflower Rice
This is another one of those great lunch ideas for 1 Year Old if they hate veggies. Cauliflower is a cruciferous veg meaning that it is loaded with all the vitamins and minerals your little one could possibly need! This recipe is super simple to make and tastes great too.
Ingredients:
- 1 medium cauliflower
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 3 medium carrots
- 1 cup of corn, frozen
- 5 tbsp soy sauce, low sodium
- 1 1/2 tbsp of coconut oil
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp grounded black pepper
Method:
Start by cutting the cauliflower into florets. Be sure to get rid of the hard core. Wash and dry. Using a food processor, pulse the cauliflower until it is crumbly and has a rice-like texture. Once this is done, set the cauliflower to one side.
In a large skillet, heat the coconut oil over medium heat. Once hot, throw in the garlic and onions and fry for about 2-3 minutes or until the onions are soft and translucent.
Next up, you will need to add the peas, carrots, and corn to the skillet and cook for about 6-8 more minutes, or until the carrots are soft.
Then add the riced cauliflower to the pan and cover and cook for 7-9 minutes or until the cauliflower has softened.
Add in the whisked eggs and soy sauce to the pan, mixing with a large spoon until all of the vegetables are evenly coated with the egg. Cook for a further 3-5 more minutes or until the eggs are fully cooked.
Serve warm.
5. Lunch Ideas for 1 year old: Pesto Chicken Vegetable Meatballs
This yummy recipe is great for packing in the protein and vegetables into your children’s tummies! It serves 6 people and takes only 30 minutes to prep and cook. It is also gluten-free so perfect if your child or you has celiac disease.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound chicken breast
- 1/2 medium bell pepper, red
- 1 medium carrot
- 3 tbsp pesto
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs, plain
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup zucchini
Method:
Begin by preheating your oven to 375 degrees.
Prepare the vegetable mixture by doing the following: Gently pat the extra moisture off the zucchini with a paper towel or clean dish towel. Add it to a large-sized bowl along with the finely minced carrot and bell pepper. Then add in the pesto, bread crumbs, and salt and stir until they are all combined.
Fold in the ground chicken breast using your hands (or a large fork), and toss together the chicken and vegetable mixture until it’s mixed together.
Next up, line a baking sheet with foil and drizzle with olive oil.
Using a tablespoon, make small meatballs and place them on the baking sheet. Alternatively, just use your hands to roll them out.
Cook for about 10 minutes. If you want your meatballs to be a bit browner, broil them for a further 1-3 minutes. If this isn’t important, continue baking meatballs for another 2-3 minutes, or till cooked through.
Serve with your favourite sauce, pasta, or on a sandwich.
