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Home » Collections » 9 Easy & Delicious Vegetable Lunches

9 Easy & Delicious Vegetable Lunches

Published: Sep 25, 2020 · Modified: Jun 4, 2021 by Dora · This post may contain affiliate links ·

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vegetable filled lunches

If you're dedicated to helping your child eat nutritious food and establish healthy eating habits from the start, then you're probably aware that veggies are a big part of that.

But there is a reason kids don't like them, some are bitter, some are gooey, some are chewy and some are too leafy for them.

So, trying to make sure your child eats enough vegetables can be hard. Especially trying to fit them into delicious vegetable lunches or dinners.

Jump to:
  • Kids Don't Eat Veggies?
  • A Different Approach To Veggie Exposure
  • Why Do This For Lunch?
  • Vegetable Lunches Where Veggies Are Visible
  • Vegetable Lunches Where Veggies Are Served As A Sauce
  • Vegetable Lunch Where Veggies Aren't Visible
  • Final Note

Kids Don't Eat Veggies?

But often veggies are neglected by kids. And science still hasn't come up with a reason for that.

For example, right now, my 16-month old son is in a "potato phase". Meaning the only veggie he'll eat is a potato. No matter which ones are served right next to it.

So what I've been doing lately is serving meals that have a balanced macronutrient count which also includes produce – i.e. veggies.

A Different Approach To Veggie Exposure

vegetable filled lunches

To clarify – the goal here is not to hide the veggies you serve within other food. Think big picture: it's better to instill healthy eating habits rather than just getting some veggies in on any given day.

So you're better off serving veggies in ways that encourage your kids to eat them, while remaining aware of what they are eating.

This can be done in several ways.

Different Ways Of Exposing Veggies In Food

  • Serving mixed meals were veggies are visible (e.g. lasagne, pasta, stew, spring rolls etc.)
  • Servings veggies as a sauce (e.g. in a risotto, pasta etc.)
  • Serving veggies in a soup (my absolute favorite)!
  • Serving them in baked goods (e.g. muffins, frittata, pancakes, etc.) but communicating with the child what they are eating so that they are aware you are not trying to trick them

Why Do This For Lunch?

I've found lunch being the easiest meal of the day where I can try this.

Breakfast is really a porridge time for us, and snacks are usually dairy or fruit so lunch comes naturally as a meal where I try and expose my son to different veggies in different ways.

And if he doesn't eat them, he still has 1 or 2 meals left throughout the day where he can fulfill his nutritional requirements and not go to bed hungry.

If he doesn't want to eat what I've served for lunch, I'll also often offer it again at dinner time. And sometimes he will choose the lunch option and even ask for more. Toddlers!

So let's take a look at different types of simple and quick veggie lunches that you can serve to your picky toddler.

Vegetable Lunches Where Veggies Are Visible

Vegetable Lunches #1

Mediterranean Sweet Potato Salad with Lemon Mint Vinaigrette
Super easy, 10 min prep, 20 min in the oven, this Mediterranean sweet potato salad is a vegetarian dream with flavorful crispy roasted chickpeas, lettuce, cucumber, tomato and dressed in a refreshing lemon mint vinaigrette.
Check out this recipe
Mediterranean Sweet Potato Salad with Lemon Mint Vinaigrette

Veggie Lunches #2

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
A nutrient-dense twist on a classic dish that we've always loved.
Check out this recipe
cauliflower mac and cheese

Vegetable Lunches #3

Quinoa Tomato Risotto
A simple, colorful, and healthy meal that gives your baby the perfect opportunity to practice those fork and spoon skills!
Check out this recipe
Quinoa Tomato Risotto

Veggie Lunches #4

Spinach Mozzarella Omelet
Eggs are a fantastic food to include in your child's diet – they are just so versatile! So for their very first omelet, check out our simple recipe here.
Check out this recipe
Mozarella Spinach Omelet

Vegetable Lunches Where Veggies Are Served As A Sauce

Veggie Lunches #5

Salmon Spinach Pasta
Salmon spinach pasta is a super easy-to-prep healthy meal that you can whip up in no time and have a balanced meal ready for the whole family.
Check out this recipe
Salmon Spinach Pasta 1

Vegetable Lunch Where Veggies Aren't Visible

Veggie Lunches #6

Vegetable Frittata
A quick and easy vegetable frittata that you can make with your kids for a super healthy and balanced meal all in one.
Check out this recipe
Vegetable Frittata

Vegetable Lunches #7

Quinoa Vegetable Muffins
Quinoa vegetable muffins are easy to make and just the right balance of tasty, nutritious, filling, and perfect for little hands!
Check out this recipe
Quinoa vegetable muffins

Veggie Lunches #8

Cheesy Broccoli Bites
Cheesy broccoli bites are the perfect way to pack in some veggies into your day – they are delicious, easy to make and ideal for when you're out!
Check out this recipe
cheesy broccoli bites

Vegetable Lunches #9

Banana Spinach Pancakes Baby Recipe
A great way to add nutritious spinach to a baby recipes. These healthy spinach pancakes are made with just 4 ingredients - banana, oats, egg and spinach and in 10 minutes. Perfect for 6 month old baby-led weaning, toddlers, kids and even adults love them. 
Check out this recipe
banana spinach pancakes stacked for baby recipe

Final Note

Trying to balance pretty much everything in life and getting your child to eat nutritious food can be a struggle. But let me tell you a little secret – you don't need to get them to eat.

Just serve balanced meals filled with nutritious foods. And let them take it from there.

This list of vegetable lunches is a simple way of including vegetables into meals that you can serve to your child and they can choose whether they'll eat it or not.

Since most of these are mixed meals, I do recommend serving other foods they usually eat and love alongside so that even if they refuse the vegetable exposure part of the meal they still have something to eat.

What's Your Biggest Struggle When Feeding Your Child? Let us know in comments.

You might also like these:

If you're looking for lists of recipes in one place, take a look at these:

  • 15 Healthy Toddler Snacks To Take On The Go
  • Healthy Snack Ideas For Kids And Toddlers
  • 6 Healthy Dessert Recipes For Babies And Toddlers
  • 7 Quarantine Blender Recipes You Can Make With Your Toddler
  • 9 Nutrient-Dense Baby And Toddler Breakfast Recipes
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