Take some of the work out of feeding your crew this month with 4 weeks of meal ideas you can feed to your entire family—babies and toddlers included! The ideas include breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner, with easy methods and accessible ingredients.
Easy Family Meal Plan
I know this time of year can often feel…very, very long and cold (at least if you live in the Northern hemisphere), so I did my best to add in some new flavors to this month’s meal plan.
My hope is that this meal plan offers you approachable ideas to help you feed your family from breakfast through dinner, and reminds you that simple meals are often the best ones.
Use all of the ideas here, pick and choose a couple to try, or come back to this post throughout the month when you find yourself without a dinner plan. Whatever your approach to meal planning, I’m here to help!
Meal Rotation
I plan my months using the idea of a rotation that narrows my options for each week, but still offers flexibility. The breakfast and lunch categories stay the same throughout the month, the the dinners rotate every other week.
You can adjust this to work for your family, but not having to start from scratch each month is so helpful for my brain that I hope it helps you too!
February Week 1
I like to round out meals with a side of fruit or simple veggies, and milk or water.
Breakfast Ideas
Sugar-Free Banana Muffins
Be sure to use very ripe bananas (with lots of brown spots!) for the best flavor and natural sweetness. (I updated this recipe December 2020 to ensure the most reliable results. The original version of this recipe is the “Egg-free” option in the Notes if you loved that. In the main recipe, I reduced the oil, added an egg, increased the baking soda a smidge, and reduced the baking time. They’re great!)
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How to Make Eggs in the Microwave
You can season the cooked egg with a little salt, butter or cheese if you’d like, but it’s very good as is. See the Note about the heat setting when cooking in a microwave.
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Easy Carrot Cake Oatmeal
With the flavors of carrot cake, this Carrot Cake Oatmeal is a favorite breakfast to share with the kids. It's a good source of whole grains, fiber, and yummy flavor.
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Lunch Ideas
Easy Breakfast Burritos
With just 4 simple ingredients, these easy Breakfast Burritos can be made ahead and reheated, or made in minutes and served right away. They're a protein-packed breakfast to share with the kids.
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Sweet Potato Chicken Bowls (Easy Meal Prep)
You can meal prep this recipe to have ready for future lunches or dinners to share with the kids or you can make it as a family dinner. Add flavor to your bowl with the optional ingredients.
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Quick Sandwich Roll Ups (2-Minute School Lunch)
Pair a soft sandwich bread with your filling of choice to make this easy toddler lunch or school lunch. You can even make them the night before.
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Snack Ideas
ABC Baby Muffins (Apple, Banana and Carrot!)
These are deliberately very moist (and moister than regular muffins) to ensure they are easy for baby to chew and swallow, so expect that from the interior. They have three types of produce in the mix and are a yummy breakfast or snack.
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Favorite Mango Smoothie Recipe
This fresh Mango Smoothie is thin enough to drink through a straw and thick enough to eat with a spoon. And of course, it's super creamy!
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Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
These classic Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies have lower sugar but all the flavor and texture you crave. Choose your add-ins based on the kinds your family enjoys most.
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Dinners
Extra-Veggie Minestrone Baby Soup (for Big Kids too!)
With a streamlined method and a quick cooking time, this veggie-packed baby soup (that big kids and parents will also enjoy!) is filled with vegetarian protein and super yummy Italian flavors.
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Instant Pot Chana Masala-Style Chickpeas
Try making a super easy Indian food recipe at home with this mild Instant Pot Chana Masala. It's easy to make, freezes beautifully, and packs extra veggies tucked right into the sauce. (This will likely make enough for two meals—I like to freeze the second half for a future week.)
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Quick and Easy Shrimp Tacos
With just 10 minutes of cooking time, you can serve up these Easy Shrimp Tacos with sweet bell peppers to the whole family. Add some simple sides and everyone is sure to be happy!
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4-Ingredient Sausage Pasta (with Broccoli)
This pasta recipe is quick and delicious and the flavor from the sausage is really key. (Just a heads up that you'll need to reserve a little of the pasta cooking water, so keep that in mind BEFORE you drain the pasta.) Chicken sausage is usually leaner than pork, so when making this with chicken sausage, I like to add butter or olive oil before serving.
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Easy Sausage Meatballs
Add more flavor to your next batch of meatballs with this easy Sausage Meatball recipe. (Feel free to freeze half of the batch to use in a future meal.)
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February Week 2
When serving family meals, I aim to include 1-2 foods the kids usually like to ensure that there’s always something on the table that they like. This helps to prevent making them something separate—and me having to get up 17 times during a meal!
Breakfast Ideas
Mini Cinnamon Muffins
Made with a base of applesauce and whole grain flour, these easy mini muffins are sweet enough to taste like a treat!
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Favorite Chocolate Pancakes
These Chocolate Pancakes are both easy and flavorful, with just a hint of cocoa flavor. See the Notes at the end for variations and serving suggestions.
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Best Chocolate Smoothie (with Veggies!)
Be sure to blend this super smooth for the best texture. Use any or none of the optional ingredients. See the Notes for how to make this with regular milk.
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Baked Raspberry Donuts
These bright and fresh baked donuts have the texture of a cake donut but with a zing of fresh fruit. I like my Wilton Donut Pan for this recipe, though you can bake them in a mini muffin pan with the same timing.
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Snack Ideas
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls
These no-bake bites taste like a cross between oatmeal raisin and peanut butter cookie dough. I use natural creamy peanut butter (like the kind from Smuckers), and it works really well.
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Favorite Banana Bread Muffins
Be sure to use super ripe bananas—the more black and brown spots, the better the flavor and sweetness will be!—for the best results here.
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Easy Chocolate Cupcakes
This Easy Chocolate Cupcake recipe is a lower-sugar take on a classic dessert—but it's filled with chocolate flavor and creamy frosting that the kids will totally love. (This recipe makes a dozen modest-size cupcakes or 9 more standard cupcakes.)
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Lunch Ideas
Easy Spinach Grilled Cheese
You can also do this with full size spinach if that's what you're able to find. Just discard any stems before starting the recipe.
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Pizza Muffins (with Veggies!)
These work well to make ahead and warm up for an easy lunch or dinner. These taste best served warm.
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Favorite Pizza Rolls (with Spinach and Cheese)
Be sure to grease your pan well and roll the dough up fairly tightly around the fillings for best results. (But it's okay if they don't look perfect when they go into the pan!)
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Dinners
Easy Red Lentil Soup
With plant-based protein and Vitamin C-rich veggies, this brightly flavored Red Lentil Soup—with sweet potato, ginger, and coconut— is a perfect fast family dinner ready in less than 30 minutes.
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Easy Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese
Friends, meet my new favorite lightning fast dish. This Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese requires just 5 simple ingredients, zero prep work, and is just the yummiest pasta recipe!
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Easy Zucchini Burgers
Stretch your ground beef and add a veggie right into moist burger patties with this simple family dinner recipe.
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February Week 3
We do oatmeal twice a week to keep it in regular rotation, which I find helps the kids be open to eating it–but it’s not enough that they have a chance to get bored of it!
Breakfast Ideas
How to Make Oatmeal with Fruit
The base recipe makes a large amount so you can use it throughout the week. Feel free to cut it in half to make less, or just make one serving at a time using the instructions in the NOTES section below.
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How to Cook Eggs (10 Kid-Friendly Ways)
This is meant to be a cheat sheet for the best basic ways to cook eggs. Refer back to the body of the post for links to making egg muffins.
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Blueberry Banana Muffins with Oats
Like a cross between a fluffy blueberry muffin and baked oatmeal, these muffins are moist and packed with yummy nutrition.
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Master Trail Mix Recipe
Mix and match ingredients to customize this mix for your kids.
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Snack Ideas
Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins (Little Bites Copycat)
Moist tender Mini Chocolate Chip Muffins that taste as good as store bought, but have a little extra nutrition? Sign. Me. Up. These muffins are seriously delicious and are a must-make if you have fans of Little Bites in your house!
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Creamy Vanilla Cottage Cheese Dip
With a smooth and creamy texture and a nice amount of protein and fats to fuel little bodies, this cottage cheese blend is perfect for spreading or dipping.
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So Good Chickpea Blondies
These blondies are packed with just-sweet-enough flavor and nutrition.They are delicious chilled right out of the fridge with a glass of cold milk.
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Lunch Ideas
10 Easy Wraps for Kids
Try these easy wraps for kids as an easy lunch or meal when you want to change up the usual sandwich options. Nutrition info will vary according to the ingredients you use.
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Chocolate Protein Muffins (With Veggies!)
These simple blender muffins pack a serious nutrition punch and are dairy-free, with a nut-free option. I prefer the flavor of these once they are fully cooled and chilled in the fridge.
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Mac and Cheese with Peas (Fav Shortcut Toddler Meal)
With an easy method and a yummy, satisfying result, this quick toddler meal is one of our go-to shortcut kids meals.
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Dinners
Favorite Alphabet Soup
You can use ABC pasta, orzo, pastina, or ditalini—or any other very small pasta shape in this Alphabet Soup recipe. And you can start with fresh or frozen veggies. See below for options.
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Easy Instant Pot Butter Chicken
Forget takeout—deliver this popular Indian dish to your table instead. Shredded chicken thighs are coated in a rich, buttery sauce with hints of tomatoes, ginger, and garam masala—a messy but very flavorful finger food. Adapted from The Multi-Cooker Baby Food Cookbook.
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Easy Spinach Quesadillas
You can also do this with full size spinach if that’s what you’re able to find. Just discard any stems before starting the recipe.
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Easy Citrus Shrimp and Noodles
With a quick 20-minute cooking method perfect for a weeknight dinner, this easy Shrimp and Noodles recipe has a flavorful (yet kid-friendly!) Asian sauce with a refreshing hit of citrus. You can use fresh or frozen shrimp in this recipe. If using frozen, defrost according to package directions.
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Easy Chicken Noodle Soup for Kids
This easy recipe makes a big pot of comforting soup to feed the whole family—babies, toddlers, and big kids included. The leftovers store nicely so you can enjoy it for a few days!
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February Week 4
Add in some other favorite meals or takeout, leftovers, or snack dinners as you like.
Breakfast Ideas
The Best 2-Ingredient Pancakes (Baby and Toddler Approved)
This recipe makes one small batch of super tender 2-Ingredient Pancakes. It usually makes 1-2 little-kid-size servings. To make more, simply double the recipe. These are delicate pancakes with a texture that's sort of custardy like French toast, so be gentle when flipping them. See the NOTES at the bottom for the flavor variations.
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Easy Vegan Banana Muffins
These taste best with a very ripe banana with brown spots, as they will have the most natural sweetness and flavor.
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Baked Oatmeal Cups
Transform plain oats into a yummy and easy-to-eat finger food with this baked oatmeal cups recipe. You can double the recipe to make more if desired.
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Snack Ideas
Favorite Yogurt Melts (Easiest Yogurt Bites!)
These melt-in-your mouth yogurt bites are a fun way to serve yogurt. Plan to make them at least 2 hours before you want to serve them.
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So Easy Sliced Baked Apples
We like these apples warm or cold out of the fridge, so see what your kids like best!
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Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats
Look for brown rice syrup in the baking aisle near agave nectar and sugar.
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Lunch Ideas
Easiest Homemade Uncrustables
You can make one sandwich at a time, or make a batch of a few to stash in the freezer. Adjust this as needed for your preference.
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Easy Bento Lunch Box Ideas
Adjust these portions for the usual appetite of your child. Nutrition will vary based on the ingredients and portions you serve.
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10-Minute Flatbread Pizza (Just 3 Ingredients!)
For delicious homemade pizza without the work and in a lot less time, Flatbread Pizza to the rescue. Adjust this for allergies as you need.
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Dinners
Favorite Vegetarian Lentil Soup
With a quick method and a variety of vegetables packed into the soup, this vegetarian Lentil Soup is a perfect weeknight family dinner—especially when you're craving comfort food.
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Crispy Baked Chicken Nuggets
These baked chicken nuggets have simple ingredients and a pleasantly crispy exterior. Aim to cut the chicken into similarly sized pieces so they bake evenly.
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Easiest Homemade Refried Beans
This recipe makes enough for 2-3 meals depending on the size and appetites of your family. See below for storage information!
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5-Ingredient Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Use your family’s favorite shape and type of pasta in this recipe. (We like elbows or mini shells!)
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Baked Sheet Pan Nachos
These Baked Sheet Pan Nachos have a tender potato base and are topped with black beans, cheese, salsa and veggies. They're a total family dinner hit. (You can add some of the ingredients to some of the areas—leaving the spinach off, adding more salsa or spice—to customize for everyone at the table.)
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If you have any questions or comments about this plan, please comment below! I’d love to chat.
This post was first published February 2020.
Dear Amy,
I just wanted to thank you for this meal planner! I am going to give it a go. It’s always such a chore to plan meals weekly as I go through my cookbooks back and forth. So many things we love but it’s different when feeding a toddler. So thank you, this will make February much easier for us!
All the best 🙂
Thanks very much for this meal plan. Hoping it will helo my 22 month old, who is starting to get pickier. Was just wondering when you say “smoothie lunch”, do you usually supplement with something else on the side?
We usually do something simple like a muffin, whole grain crackers and cheese, or a piece of toast or half of a sandwich.
I love, love these meal plans! Instead of a bunch of foods listed that a toddler should eat you actually have the meals planned out which is great. It’s too hard to pick from a list of foods to prepare and figure out which ones for each day. Plus I know they are healthy. I watch my grandson everyday and want to feed him healthy foods . In today’s world with fast food, GMO’s , pesticides, antibiotics and who know what else its very scary to know what to feed a growing child. So I am very thankful for your newsletter, all your tips and helpful ideas. And Especially your meal plans Thank You!!
I’m so glad that it’s all helpful!
You are so amazing!! I love this meal plan so much!! Thank you for getting it out so fast! We are meal planning this morning and it’s so nice to have ideas!
I hope it’s useful for your planning!