Meal Plan for 18 to 24 Months Old Toddlers
What should you know about feeding your 18- to 24-month-old toddler?
Follow their cues: Your little one knows when they are hungry and full, let them guide how much they eat
Tips for picky eating: You provide healthy foods at mealtimes, let your toddler choose what and how much to eat
By 18 months, your child can eat the same foods as the rest of the family, making mealtime much easier to figure out.
At this age, offer your little one food every 2 to 3 hours since their tummies are still pretty small and they’ll need to eat frequently throughout the day to get the nutrients needed for development.1 This usually ends up being 3 meals and about 2 to 3 nutritious snacks daily.
Follow your toddler’s hunger and fullness cues
Your little one may be able to verbalize when they are hungry and when satisfied. Their developing communication skills may also include voicing their likes and dislikes when it comes to which foods they prefer to eat.
Make sure to listen to your little one’s hunger and fullness cues to help them build strong internal feeding cues as well as a healthy relationship with food.2
To help nurture your child’s internal cues, provide meals without distractions such as the TV or other screens.3
Read more: Understanding Your Baby’s Hunger and Fullness Cues
Tips for picky eating
You may find your little one becoming a bit picky at this age. Try not to let this be discouraging.
Your goal as the parent is to provide healthy food choices and set specific times to eat. Your child’s job is to decide how much of the foods you provide to eat, or if they eat them at all!45 This is called the Division of Responsibility.
While them leaving food on the plate may feel frustrating, don’t force your little one to eat something. Over time, and as they watch you eat these foods, they will become more comfortable and may eventually eat them.6
Keep mealtime a positive experience and offer disliked or new foods over and over again!
Read more: The Division of Responsibility: Helping Avoid Picky Eating
Utensil time!
By 18 months, your little one may be fairly proficient at eating with a spoon. At each meal, provide toddler utensils to allow your child lots of practice.78
The same goes for cups. At meals, provide water or milk in a plastic cup to help your little one develop their skills.1
Read more: Transitioning to Cups for Babies and Toddlers
Fully transition to cow’s milk
By now, your child should have transitioned from infant formula to whole milk or soy milk. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends drinking about 16 ounces per day, with a max of 24 ounces (2 to 3 cups).9
If you are still breastfeeding, you can continue to do so as both you and your child desire.1011
The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends that your little one be fully weaned from a bottle between 12 and 24 months.12
Read more: What Type of Milk Should my Toddler Drink?
Pro Tips for feeding your 18- to 24-month-old
As your child gets older and life gets busier, it may seem easier to choose quicker, more convenient foods. However, many ready-to-eat convenience foods many times contain too much added sugars and excess salt.13 Be sure to read the label before purchasing these for your tot.
Your child’s taste preferences are still developing so be sure to offer them mostly whole, fresh foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. The food you serve your child during this stage can influence what they prefer to eat later in life.
18 to 24 Month Old Meal Plan
The below meal plan provides snack and recipe ideas to help you provide your little one with nutritious choices that will continue to positively influence their taste development, as well as get nutrients that are important for their growth and development.
Breakfast
Option 1: Whole grain toast topped with nut butter and sliced bananas
Option 2: Oatmeal made with milk and frozen berries
Option 3: Broccoli and Cheddar Egg Cups
Option 4: Whole grain waffle with ricotta cheese and berries
Option 5: Freezer-friendly Spinach Waffles
Lunch
Option 1: Whole wheat pasta mixed with white beans and tomato sauce
Option 2: Turkey roll up: whole wheat tortilla with hummus spread, turkey and sliced cucumber
Option 3: Pumpkin Mac & Cheese
Option 4: Avocado Tuna Salad in Mini Pita Pockets
Option 5: Tex-Mex pizza: whole grain pita topped with tomato sauce, cheddar cheese, and black or pinto beans
Dinner
Option 1: Veggie lasagna
Option 2: Crispy Cumin White Fish with Pineapple & Avocado Chunks and Cilantro Rice
Option 3: Whole Grain Chicken Nuggets with Green Bean “Fries”
Option 4: Stir fry with chicken, squash, peas and brown rice
Option 5: Black bean tomato quesadillas
Snacks
Option 1: Sliced apples with a thin spread of nut butter
Option 2: Cottage cheese and fruit
Option 3: Veggies with hummus
Option 4: Chocolate Avocado Yogurt Popsicles
Option 5: Blueberry Banana Blender Muffins
Let’s Chat!
We know parenting often means sleepless nights, stressful days, and countless questions and confusion, and we want to support you in your feeding journey and beyond.
Our Happy Baby Experts are a team of lactation consultants and registered dietitian nutritionists certified in infant and maternal nutrition – and they’re all moms, too, which means they’ve been there and seen that. They’re here to help on our free, live chat platform Monday – Friday 8am-6pm (ET). Chat Now!
Read more about the experts that help write our content!
For more on this topic, check out the following articles and recipes:
Picky Eater Meal Plan: Recipe and Snack Ideas
When it’s More than Picky Eating: 4 Warning Signs
Healthy Snacks for Babies and Toddlers
Our meal plans offer recipe and meal suggestions for your child. They are not designed to replace your doctor’s recommendations, nor do they take into account special nutritional needs, including allergies and intolerances. The meal plans suggest serving sizes that may or may not be appropriate for your child. Please consult your doctor to determine what is best for your child.