7 Easy and Delicious Dairy-Free Meals for Toddlers
Updated: Jul. 12, 2019
Dairy can be a hard food group to avoid—especially when you have a picky toddler. Whether your family is vegan or your kiddo has allergies, here are some tasty dairy-free meals for toddlers to try.
Milk, cheese and yogurt are often mainstays of a toddler’s diet. But some children are allergic or sensitive to dairy. Or perhaps your family avoids dairy as part of your food philosophy. Never fear, there are plenty of dairy-free meals for toddlers that you can try. Here are some easy ideas to get you started!
New to this lifestyle? You won’t believe these meals are dairy-free.
Dairy-Free Meals for Toddlers
1. Dairy-Free Pancakes
When you’re building a toddler breakfast without cheesy scrambled eggs or yogurt, consider simple dairy-free pancakes. (Birch Benders has a great mix for pancakes and waffles.) Pair your ‘cakes with some sliced strawberries and bananas. Looking for a special weekend treat? Offer up this easy glazed bacon.
2. Taco Bowls
Steamed rice, black or pinto beans and some grilled chicken or seasoned ground beef make for a healthy weeknight meal. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to experiment with tomatoes, lettuce and avocado, too. Make your bowls as complex or as simple as you want. Separate foods (for toddlers) or mix them together (for you). Plus, if you have family members who can eat cheese, taco bowls are an easy meal to customize.
3. Grilled Steak and Corn
Perfect for summer, grilled steak (keep it tender, and be sure to cut the meat into bite-sized pieces before serving) paired with corn on the cob is an easy option. (Just be sure to give the corn time to cool so it doesn’t burn your toddler’s tongue!) Add some seedless watermelon for a balanced meal.
4. Turkey on Crackers
For a simple lunch or a hefty snack, offer turkey lunch meat on whole-wheat crackers or pita. Then, throw in some crunchy celery and carrots on the side. For a dairy-free veggie dip option, try this cannellini bean hummus.
5. Bento Box
A bento box (like this one) is basically a divided tray—perfect for toddlers who don’t want their foods to touch. Sliced bananas and pineapple, steamed green beans, sliced cucumbers, ground meat, apple wedges, sliced tomatoes, whole-grain crackers, guacamole… Yep, the options are endless. And as long as you offer up an array of healthy foods, you can rest easy calling the collection of foods a meal. (Bonus: Make your own simple guacamole and invite your kiddo to help—mashing avocados is fun and easy for a toddler!)
6. Roasted Chicken and Potatoes
Whether you roast a whole chicken or bake some legs (or hey, even “cheat” and pick up a rotisserie chicken), this easy protein is great for toddlers. Depending on your little one’s stage, you might want to take the meat off the bone. But a lot of toddlers are completely comfortable digging into a piece of bone-in meat. Throw in some roasted yams, a side of lentils, green beans or simple steamed broccoli for a complete meal. This roasted chicken and red potatoes dish is a good place to start.
7. Fish Sticks with Veggies
Raise your hand if your kid loves fish. Yeah, didn’t think so. Fish can be tough to introduce, but fish sticks (try this homemade version) can make the introduction a little easier. Roasted colorful veggies—like zucchini, squash and bell pepper—are a nice complement. Add some applesauce for a familiar fave.
Don’t Forget Dairy-Free Substitutes!
There are endless combinations of healthy meats, beans and lentils, fruits and veggies and whole grains that you can use to create lots of dairy-free toddler meals. But don’t forget, there also are many substitutes for dairy products—nut, oat and soy milks, for example. Plus plant-based “cheeses”, almond-milk yogurts, vegan butters and more. These substitutes may not work perfectly in every recipe, but through research and experimentation you’ll have many dairy-free options to choose from at mealtime.
Plan on making dessert, too! Your little one will love these dairy-free treats.
Find Dairy-Free Dinners for the Family
Stovetop Beef and ShellsI fix this supper when I'm pressed for time. It's as tasty as it is fast. Team it with salad, bread and fruit for a comforting meal. —Donna Roberts, Manhattan, Kansas
Mediterranean Mashed PotatoesIt's hard for our family to imagine eating mashed potatoes any other way but this. It tastes great on its own or drizzled with tahini sauce. —Nikki Haddad, Germantown, Maryland
Sweet-and-Sour SupperMy mother shared this recipe, which I've been making for my family for years. The homemade sweet-and-sour sauce is the key to this dish's success. —Dorothy Reimer, Dewberry, Alberta
Lemon Chicken with OrzoHere's a dish that's light and summery but still filling. My kids love all the veggies...for real! If you like a lot of lemon, stir in an extra splash of lemon juice just before serving. —Shannon Humphrey, Hampton, Virginia
Ginger Veggie Brown Rice PastaOnce I discovered brown rice pasta, I never looked back. Tossed with ginger, bright veggies and rotisserie chicken, it tastes like a deconstructed egg roll! —Tiffany Ihle, Bronx, New York
Pumpkin-Lentil SoupI was really craving a hot delicious soup—something filling and healthy. I looked around my kitchen for a few ingredients, then created this recipe. Pumpkin adds creamy richness and body. —Amy Blom, Marietta, Georgia
Meatball Cabbage RollsMy mother often had these cabbage rolls simmering in her slow cooker when my family and I arrived at her house for weekend visits. The mouthwatering meatballs tucked inside made these stand out from any other cabbage rolls I've tried. —Betty Buckmaster, Muskogee, Oklahoma
Lemony Chicken & RiceI couldn’t say who loves this recipe best, because it gets raves every time I serve it! Occasionally I even get a phone call or email from a friend requesting the recipe, and it's certainly a favorite for my grown children and 15 grandchildren. —Maryalice Wood, Langley, British Columbia
Spaghetti with BaconAs children, we always requested this dish for our birthday dinners. Our mother got the recipe from her grandmother. Now I pass on our tasty tradition. —Ruth Keogh, North St. Paul, Minnesota
Sunday Roast ChickenThis recipe proves that comfort food doesn't have to be full of unwanted calories. Mixed with orange and lemon juice, my roast chicken is both flavorful and healthy. —Robin Haas, Cranston, Rhode Island.
Moist Cranberry Pork RoastI love to serve this tender, flavorful pork to guests. You don’t have to toil away in the kitchen to prepare it, yet it tastes like a gourmet meal. —Kimberley Scasny, Douglasville, Georgia
Lemony Shrimp & Snow Pea PastaThis pretty pasta is a family favorite —the kids love the light lemony flavor and I love that they devour the fresh veggies. You can use other types of pasta for variety, like bow ties or corkscrews. —Jennifer Fisher, Austin, Texas
Shrimp PuttanescaI throw together these bold ingredients for a feisty seafood pasta. —Lynda Balslev, Sausalito, California
Chicken with Sugar Pumpkins & ApricotsWhen we have family gatherings, we give the slow cooker kitchen duty. This yummy chicken with pumpkin and apricots has the warm flavors of Morocco. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
Asparagus Nicoise SaladI’ve used my Nicoise as an appetizer or a main-dish salad, and it’s a winner every time I put it on the table. Here’s to a colorful, make-ahead salad! —Jan Meyer, St. Paul, Minnesota
Spicy Pork TenderloinA friend shared this recipe for marvelously flavorful pork years ago. It really sparks up a barbecue and has been popular whenever I've served it. I guarantee you'll get many requests for the recipe.
—Diana Steger, Prospect, Kentucky
Red Clam SauceThis recipe tastes like an Italian restaurant specialty and cooks while you take care of other things. What a marvelous way to jazz up pasta sauce! —JoAnn Brown, Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Cider-Glazed Pork TenderloinThis is a super easy recipe full of sweet fall flavor. The maple flavor really shines through. —Susan Stetzel, Gainesville, New York
Italian Sausage and Zucchini SoupEveryone in my family likes this soup recipe. Sometimes I add mini farfalle because my grandchildren say the noodles look like tiny butterflies. This recipe also works in a slow cooker. —Nancy Murphy, Mount Dora, Florida. Don't forget to check out our collection of dairy-free soups.
Mahi Mahi & Veggie SkilletCooking mahi mahi with a mix of vegetables may seem complex, but I developed this skillet recipe to bring out the wow factor without the hassle and fuss. —Solomon Wang, Arlington, Texas
Slow-Cooked Turkey with Berry CompoteWe love to eat turkey, and on hot summer days, here's how we get our fix. For golden-brown turkey, broil for a few minutes before serving. —Margaret Bracher, Robertsdale, Alabama
Flank Steak with Cilantro Salsa VerdeEven though steak is always a winner in our house, to make it even more special I add jarred salsa verde and top with freshly chopped tomato and avocado. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Rosemary-Lemon Chicken ThighsA cooking show inspired me to create this lemony chicken. Ask your butcher to remove the bones from chicken thighs but leave the skin intact. —Jennifer Tidwell, Fair Oaks, California
Mediterranean Shrimp Orzo SaladLoaded with veggies and shrimp, this crowd pleaser is a tasty change from standard pasta salads. —Ginger Johnson, Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Rosemary Lamb ChopsMy father loves lamb, so I make this rosemary lamb chop recipe whenever he visits. It's the perfect main course for holidays or get-togethers. —Kristina Mitchell, Clearwater, Florida
Spinach Chicken SaladDazzle your hungry visitors with this crunchy salad. It showcases an interesting mixture of chicken, pasta, spinach and other vegetables. The delectable dressing complements the colorful ingredients. A hearty plateful makes a satisfying entree. —Janet Mooberry, Peoria, Illinois
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Originally Published: July 12, 2019
