Toddler Meals

Oh... Toddlers. One minute they love broccoli, the next they are throwing that plate across the room for having something green on it. Here are some ideas from fellow moms of toddlers that are their go-to meals and will avoid the dreaded dinner meltdowns :)

• Chicken meatballs with hoisin sauce
• Spaghetti and meat sauce
• Grilled cheese (here are some fun ideas)
• Smoothies
• Buttered noodles
• Hamburgers
• Nachos
• Tacos
• Tuna casserole
• Tuna sandwiches
• Pasta with olive oil and grated Parmesan cheese
• Mediterranean Orzo (add chicken for protein!) 
• Breakfast for dinner--eggs, sausage, biscuits, pancakes, waffles, french toast, bacon etc.
• Quesadillas! Easy way to hide some veggies.
• Chicken & Rice
• Mac-n-cheese -- different add-ins can make it more healthy and fun:
• frozen peas
• hamburger
• hot dogs
• can of drained tuna
• This blog post has some amazing ideas as well!

Spring LDW Recipes

Who doesn't need a little help with dinner ideas?! The recipes below are all LDW-approved :) Hopefully it inspires everyone for the coming weeks.  I've  added a few to my own weekly dinner menu.

Dinner ideas:

• Homemade chicken salad sandwiches and fruit salad
• Honey Glazed Salmon with Browned Butter Lime Sauce served with fresh steamed green beans and brown rice 
• Pulled pork on onion rolls served with broccoli and Mac n cheese on the side 
• Slow cooker chicken caesar sandwiches 
• Tacos
• BLT'S
• Spinach chicken lasagna
• Philly cheesesteak sandwiches 
• Meatloaf with garlic mashed sweet potatoes and roasted brussel sprouts
• Homemade pizza
• Brinner! (Breakfast for dinner) 
• Alfredo bake with bacon
• Spicy Dr. Pepper Shredded Pork
• Rotisserie chicken, king's Hawaiian rolls, and fried green beans
• Grilled pork (marinated in soy sauce, brown sugar and rosemary) mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach with garlic
• Dry rubbed (brown sugar, paprika, cayenne, chili power, and cumin) pork butt in the crock pot with homemade ginger beer and onions, simmering it on low all day. Later on I'll shred it up and mix it with some locally made sweet barbecue sauce. Serve it on whatever you like! (Baked potatoes or sweet potatoes, salad, or buns.)
• Thinly sliced some flank steak, added black pepper, lots of garlic, and fish sauce, and cooked it in a pan with a little oil. Served over rice and a spinach salad.  
• Greek Shrimp and Quinoa
  
   

 
Crockpot:

• Lipton Soup Pork Roast
• Quinoa Chicken Chili
• Boneless Pork Chops: 
• 1 can of Campbell's golden mushroom soup, 1/2 can full of red wine, chopped mushrooms, and spices-- salt, pepper, garlic, paprika, etc. Serve with brown rice or potatoes and a veggie- oven roasted asparagus or steamed broccoli.
• Taco soup:  
• Mix together 1 46 oz bottle spicy hot V8, 1 packet Taco Bell taco seasoning, 1 drained can each black beans, dark red kidney beans, 1 can whole herbal corn, 2 cans Rotel. Add in either a lb of browned hamburger meat or a lb-ish of cooked shredded chicken breast. Cook on low at least an hour or 2, serve with assorted toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, black olives, jalapeños, and tortilla chips or Mexican cornbread.