Picnic foods for toddlers (18 months)

We are attempting an after-work picnic today -- a group of parents at our daycare does this every Friday, weather permitting. I had a hard time figuring out what food to bring! They don't really eat sandwiches (I've tried, they're just not into it). I needed something I could serve cold or at room temp, that they could eat with their fingers without having a high chair or tray. I do have a fridge at work, but no way to heat anything up (and it wouldn't be warm by the time we got there anyway).

I finally decided on cheese, crackers, steamed broccoli (which I'm sure they won't touch), and pasta with sauce. I know the pasta will be messy, but at least they can get most of it in the mouth and it doesn't require utensils. They're always filthy by the end of the day at daycare anyway.

Anyone have any other suggestions for next time?

 

cold chicken nuggets

 

Maybe some dried fruit, like raisins or Craisins, my girls love those. They sometimes eat pasta salad, maybe some cold chicken or hamburger (that's also hit and miss with mine).

 

Mine won't eat sandwiches either, but they like to eat the meat and cheese. You could try sliced meats, rolled up so they're easier to pick up and eat. Sliced fruit, cheese, crackers - my kids all love those for picnics.
Sounds like a lot of fun!

 

I also get ham at the deli counter cut in a thick slice and then I cube it for easy eating and pick up, you can do that with turkey or chicken too. Other ideas:
grapes
blueberries
soft cooked carrots
crackers
mini fig newtons - they are whole wheat and fruit!
cold cut up hot dog
cold chicken nuggets

My daughter has just started eating sandwiches and it is a godsend! Still working on my son though. he is the chicken nuggets king!

 

Hot dogs
ham
grapes
cheese
crackers

Have fun!

 

Awesome suggestions, thank you! It will definitely be easier next time if we can shop for it in advance. This week was spur of the moment and I had to make do with what was already in the house.

I like the idea of rolling up the deli meat -- maybe they'd actually eat it that way? At the moment they basically don't touch meat, except for fish sticks. Even chicken nuggets are iffy. Fruit would definitely be a good idea, too. All we had around was bananas, and I didn't want to have to bring a knife....

 

Hi, Alden.

I second the deli meat. We try not to give it too often b/c of sodium content...but for a picnic, it's fast and easy.

My boys love tuna, chicken, or turkey salad. They'll eat it in a sandwich, or just straight off a spoon.

You could also get fried chicken & Jo-Jos from the deli and then just tear off toddler-friendly sized pieces for the girls.

I couldn't get my boys to eat sandwiches either, until I did some experimentation with the presentation. I cut off the crusts, then slice it into 1-2" squares, which I then cut in half so they are triangle shapes. The boys' favorites are tuna salad, grilled cheese, PB&J or PB&Banana (yum!).

 

Chicken nuggets is definitely a winner!

 

Alden, we do Uncrustables sandwiches!! They love them....just a bit messy as they have more jelly in them than I make pb&j with, but when they are really hungry they'll devour a WHOLE one!! WHOA!

 

The girls love hot dogs and cheese. I cut up the hot dogs into bite size slices and cut up whatever cheese we have into bite size bits (sometimes I even cut up the string cheese into slices). Then I put them into those 2-sided disposable baby food bowls so they can each have their own bowl!!!!

I also take things like:

yogurt covered raisins or plain raisins
tofu (cut up into bite size cubes)
Ritz bits - peanut butter
goldfish
Ritz dinosaurs

They love avocado but it can be messy.

I do this almost every week for playgroup since they are early risers they're hungry in the middle of playgroup.