Protein Ideas for Toddlers

One item we always have in our kitchen is medium or firm tofu. It makes quick, lowfat, protein- packed entrees.

Quick soup: Organic chicken broth + organic baby spinach leaves + diced tofu. Season with ground pepper. We honestly don't add salt in her food. Simmer for a few minutes and that's it! I've discovered that the baby spinach has been more successful than regular spinach leaves since it has less texture for toddlers. Before serving, use scissors to cut up the spinach leaves in strips.

Her first favorite finger food that's protein was cold, diced tofu. Sophia and her toddler peers are pretty particular about the texture of their protein. Today was the first day, at 19.5 months, that I was able to successfully serve her half of a lean, grilled, ground beef patty. After broiling, I added a bit of shredded cheese. Before serving, the patty was diced in smaller cubes. We served it with organic ketchup and BBQ sauce.

You will be amazed at how much more kiddos will eat if they can dip in things...no matter if you think it's good or not :) It's all about having fun to them.

Here are some of Sophia's favorite protein options:
Peanut butter
Tofu
Chicken corndog (purchased from Sprouts)
Whole grain breaded fish fillets or chicken nuggets
Crockpot chicken soup (has been hit or miss for little boss)
Turkey meatballs
Meatloaf
Scrambled eggs with shredded cheese
Edamame(fresh soybean) is a great option but we don't have much luck with this one.
Quiche
Turkey sausage and breakfast links

It's pretty interesting to note how your toddler reacts to the food. We introduce and cycle through the above list of food on a regular basis. We do not remove rejected items because toddlers are very inconsistent with their eating behaviors. Also, keep in mind the way you cut the food and make note if it makes a difference if she/he is feeding herself. Sometimes, just by giving her a utensil will increase your chances of success.

It's not about beefing (no pun intended) her up as much as keeping her healthy! For Sophia, it's been tried an true.