Health

5 Budget-Friendly but Healthy Recipes for Your Toddler

Making homemade baby food is a great way to ensure your child gets the necessary nutrients. It’s also an inexpensive alternative to buying premade jars of food at the grocery store—especially if you are on a budget and looking for ways to save money.

There are plenty of healthy foods that are both inexpensive and nutritious. Making baby food at home can help you save up to 50% off the cost of store-bought foods. Making baby food is also a great way to introduce your child to new flavors and textures. This can help them develop their taste buds early on and make eating healthy foods easier when they’re older.

There are also some health benefits to making your baby food. While it’s essential to introduce your child to a wide variety of foods early on, many store-bought baby foods contain additives and preservatives that aren’t always healthy. Some may even have high amounts of sugar or sodium—which can contribute to tooth decay and weight gain in children.

This blog post will discuss the best ingredients for making your baby food at home. We’ll also provide a few budget-friendly recipes that you can make for your toddler—all made from inexpensive ingredients!

Avonana Smoothie

An avocado and banana smoothie is a great way to start your day, and it’s also a delicious alternative to store-bought baby food. This recipe is perfect for toddlers who don’t like pureed vegetables or fruit.

You’ll need:

  • 1 avocado, mashed
  • ½ banana, mashed
  • 1 cup milk (almond milk is a good option here)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions: Blend all the ingredients on high speed until smooth. Serve immediately and enjoy! To store it in an airtight container for up to three days, transfer it to your fridge as soon as you make it.

Applesauce Puffs

Here’s a fun, simple recipe that will get your toddler excited. This snack is a great way to sneak in some extra fruit and whole grains while giving them a fun shape they can eat!

All you need:

  • 2 applesauce pouches (we like the Ocean Spray brand)
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg white beaten with 1 tablespoon water (or an egg substitute such as Ener-G or Beyond Eggs if you’re looking for some vegan options)
  • Optional toppings: cinnamon, mini chocolate chips, and sprinkles

Directions:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • In a medium bowl, stir together the whole wheat flour and brown sugar until combined.
  • Add applesauce pouches and stir until dough forms.
  • Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes or until smooth.
  • Roll out the dough into a rectangle about 1/8-inch thick (you can use more flour if it sticks).
  • Cut into shapes using cookie cutters!
  • Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, depending on how large your shapes are.
  • You might want to bake them just until they start to brown on the edges, or you can leave them in for longer if you like your cookies crispy.
  • Cool completely before adding your toppings.

Creamy Broccoli Soup

This recipe is perfect for any toddler who likes to eat soup. It’s a healthy meal that will fill your little one up, but it’s also easy for them to eat. The recipe calls for broccoli, an excellent source of fiber and vitamin C. Broccoli is also low in calories and fat. This soup has a mild flavor that won’t overpower your child’s taste buds while learning to enjoy different foods.

All you need:

  • 2 cups broccoli florets
  • 1 cup water or vegetable broth (we used chicken stock)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or 1 minced clove of garlic

Directions:

  • In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the broccoli, water, broth, garlic powder, or chopped garlic.
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, so it simmers briefly until the broccoli turns bright green (about 5 minutes).
  • Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly before pureeing with an immersion blender (and if you don’t have one, already invest in one—you won’t regret it!)

Scrambled Eggs and Pancakes

Eggs are a great source of protein, and they’re also super easy to make. If your toddler is ready for this kind of meal, they can help you crack the eggs, whisk them together with some milk or water and butter or olive oil, and even flip them in the pan themselves.

You know what else is easy? Making pancakes from scratch! If you haven’t tried it yet (or have been waiting until now), this might be a great time to give it a go.

You’ll only need flour, sugar (or honey), baking soda and salt (or baking powder), and any additional flavorings like vanilla extract or cinnamon sugar, depending on what type of pancake batter you want to make. Add some berries or bananas when cooking them up for an extra nutrition boost—they’ll also taste delicious!

If cooking isn’t on your radar but making healthy meals is essential, then using a blender can help! You can use blenders for all kinds of dishes, from soups to smoothies, so why not pour some whole wheat flour into one instead? Your toddler will love seeing their favorite breakfast food made fresh at home without having any trouble at all mixing ingredients together themselves too!

Spinach and Cheese Quiche

A spinach and cheese quiche is an easy, kid-friendly recipe that will please even the pickiest eaters. It’s loaded with spinach and cheese for extra nutrients and flavor. You can also add any vegetables on hand, like tomatoes or mushrooms! This is a great dish to make ahead of time, so you don’t have to worry about last-minute prep when it comes to dinner.

A pie dish is a good choice for making a quiche. A muffin tin can be used for little individual quiches of any size, but there are also mini-muffin pans that have 12 wells and fit right on top of standard muffin tins. For quiche cups, look for a metal or silicone pan with cups that snap together. Fill each cup with cooked spinach, cheese, and egg mixture, then bake until golden brown on top. Finally, there are special quiche cups with lids that you can use to give your toddler the option of eating their food warm or cold.

Yes, you can make homemade baby food affordably!

The best part of making your baby food is that you can do it affordably. There are lots of ways to save money when making homemade baby food. Here are a few ideas:

  • You can use fresh ingredients instead of frozen or canned ones. Fresh fruits and vegetables are less expensive, and if you grow your veggies in the summertime (or buy them at farmer’s markets), this method will be even cheaper still. If you’re looking for tips on how to keep your fruits longer such as apples, you can learn more here.
  • Use leftovers from meals for your baby’s next meal—this will keep waste down and save some cash!
  • Make sure to buy as much produce as needed for each recipe; don’t waste any food by buying too much at once—you’ll throw away what doesn’t get eaten before it goes bad!

We hope these recipes have inspired you to try out some new budget-friendly foods with your little one! If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out our other baby food recipes on our website. And if you have any favorite recipes to share with us, please let us know in the comments below!

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