Hey there I’m Sarah
(And I’m So Glad You Found Me)
My Purpose (Why This Blog Exists)
Picture this: It’s 5:47 PM on a Tuesday. I’m standing in my Austin kitchen, holding my screaming 18-month-old Emma on my hip while my 4-year-old Jake declares that chicken nuggets are “too spicy” (they weren’t seasoned) and my 2-year-old Lily throws her perfectly diced sweet potatoes on the floor. Again.
I looked around at the chaos – the rejected meals, the hungry kids, my own rumbling stomach – and thought, “There has to be a better way.” That messy Tuesday evening in 2019 is when Meals for Toddlers was truly born. Not as a business idea, but as a desperate mom’s mission to figure out how to feed tiny humans without losing her mind.
I’d spent months scrolling Pinterest, finding gorgeous toddler meals that took 47 ingredients and three hours to make. Meanwhile, I was crying over another dinner rejection, wondering if I was failing my kids nutritionally. That night, I decided to start documenting what actually worked in our real-life, chaotic, beautiful mess of a home.
My Mission (What I Actually Do Every Day)
Every single morning, I’m in my kitchen (yes, the same one where the great sweet potato incident of 2019 happened) testing recipes that work for real toddlers with real opinions and real busy parents with real time constraints.
I don’t just develop recipes – I battle-test them. Does it survive being thrown? Will a 2-year-old actually eat it without the “special” sauce? Can I make it while bouncing a teething baby? If it doesn’t pass the “Tuesday night exhaustion test,” it doesn’t make it to you.
Over 75,000 parents now trust me with their toddler’s dinner plans, and honestly? That responsibility keeps me up at night in the best possible way. Because I know you’re dealing with the same dinner battles I fought, and if I can save you from even one mealtime meltdown, this whole crazy journey is worth it.
My Vision (Where We’re Headed Together)
Picture this: Your toddler asking for seconds on vegetables. Your little one trying new foods without a full-scale negotiation. You actually enjoying family dinner instead of dreading it.
I’m working toward a world where feeding toddlers isn’t a daily battle but a chance to connect. Where “picky eating” doesn’t send parents into Pinterest spiral at 10 PM. Where nutritious meals for little ones don’t require a culinary degree or three hours of prep time.
We’re building a community where parents support each other through the messy, wonderful journey of raising tiny food critics. And honestly? We’re already getting there, one successful dinner at a time.
My Core Values (What Drives Everything I Do)
Real Food for Real Families: If my kids can’t pronounce an ingredient, I question whether we need it. Period. This rule came directly from Jake rejecting anything that sounded “too scientific.” We keep ingredients simple, recognizable, and toddler-approved.
Parent-Tested: Every recipe survives what I call “the hangry hour test” – tired parent, hungry toddler, 20 minutes max. If it fails in my kitchen chaos, I start over. No exceptions.
Honest About Failures: I’ll tell you when recipes flop spectacularly (looking at you, hidden veggie muffins v4.0 that nobody ate). Because learning from my disasters saves you from yours. We’re all figuring this out together.
Nutrition Without Stress: I believe good nutrition happens over days and weeks, not individual meals. Some days my kids eat goldfish for lunch. Some days they demolish a rainbow of vegetables. Both are okay.
Community Over Competition: The parent next to you at the grocery store isn’t your competition – they’re your teammate. We share wins, support each other through tough phases, and remember that we’re all doing our best.
Meet the Expert Behind the Recipes (That’s Me!)
Sarah Johnson – Mom & Toddler Recipe Creator (Plus Certified Chaos Manager)
Hi there! I’m Sarah, a 35-year-old mom of three beautiful, strong-willed tiny humans living in Austin, Texas. My journey into toddler nutrition started not in a classroom, but in my own kitchen trenches, armed with nothing but determination and a lot of rejected meals.
My Story: After struggling for months with three picky eaters who seemed to survive on air and the occasional goldfish cracker, I dove headfirst into understanding toddler nutrition and food psychology. I completed my Pediatric Nutrition Specialist certification through the International Association of Nutrition Professionals in 2020, but honestly? My real education happened through thousands of meals with my own kids and the amazing parents in our community.
My Background: Before becoming a full-time recipe creator and nutrition educator, I worked as a marketing director for a local Austin food co-op, where I learned about child development and family food systems. But my most valuable credential? Three years of daily battles with toddlers who taught me that theoretical nutrition means nothing if kids won’t actually eat it.
What I’ve Learned: Over 50,000 tested meals later (yes, I actually keep count), I’ve discovered that the secret to feeding toddlers isn’t in complicated recipes or sneaky vegetables – it’s in understanding how their little minds work around food and meeting them where they are.
Personal Touch: When I’m not developing recipes, you’ll find me at the Austin Children’s Museum with my crew, attempting to garden with three “helpers” (chaos), or hiding in my pantry eating chocolate chips. I believe in transparency, so here’s the truth: my kids still reject perfectly good food sometimes, I’ve served cereal for dinner more than I care to admit, and I’m still learning every single day.
Connect with Me: Have a question about a specific feeding challenge? Wondering if a recipe will work for your little one? Email me directly at sarah@mealsfortoddlers.com – I personally read and respond to every message, usually while my kids are demolishing something in the background.
How I Actually Do This Work (Behind the Scenes)
Every recipe on this site goes through what I call “The Gauntlet” – my three-phase testing process developed after too many Pinterest fails:
Phase 1: The Kitchen Lab – I develop and test each recipe in my actual kitchen (tiny, loud, often containing small people demanding snacks). I note everything: prep time with interruptions, ingredient substitutions that work, and whether I can make it one-handed while holding a cranky toddler.
Phase 2: The Kid Panel – My three kids and their various friends become my unwitting taste testers. I track their reactions, note what they pick out or reject, and adapt accordingly. If it doesn’t pass the “kid taste test,” back to the drawing board.
Phase 3: Community Testing – I share recipes with parents in our community for real-world testing. Different kitchens, different kids, different chaos levels. This is where I learn if recipes actually work outside my Austin bubble.
Research & Safety: Every nutritional claim is backed by current pediatric research, and I consult with registered dietitians specializing in child nutrition for complex topics. Food safety is non-negotiable – all temperature guidelines and storage recommendations follow USDA standards for young children.
Why Trust Me? (Fair Question!)
Results That Matter: Over 75,000 parents use my recipes monthly, with a 94% success rate based on our community feedback. But more importantly, I hear from parents weekly about reduced mealtime stress and kids trying new foods.
Credentials & Ongoing Education: Pediatric Nutrition Specialist (IANP, 2020), Child Feeding Specialist Training (2021), and I attend the annual Pediatric Nutrition Conference. But my real credentials? Three kids who’ve taught me more about feeding challenges than any textbook ever could.
Community Trust: Our private Facebook group has over 15,000 active parents sharing successes, asking questions, and supporting each other. The conversations there inform my content and keep me grounded in real family experiences.
Transparency: I share my failures alongside successes. When recipes don’t work, I tell you. When my kids go through phases of rejecting everything green, I talk about it. Real expertise means being honest about the messy parts.
Our Community (That’s You!)
You’re not just readers – you’re fellow parents in the trenches, and you’ve shaped everything about this blog. Your questions in my inbox become new recipes. Your feeding victories become our celebrations. Your challenges help me understand what content you actually need.
Real Impact Stories:
- “Emma finally ate a vegetable that wasn’t hidden!” – Jessica M., mom of twin 2-year-olds
- “Your 15-minute meals saved our weeknight sanity.” – David K., dad of three under five
- “I stopped crying over rejected dinners after finding your blog.” – Maria L., first-time mom
How You Shape Content: Every recipe request, every “this didn’t work for us,” every success story influences what I create next. This isn’t me talking at you – it’s us figuring out toddler feeding together.
My Promise to You (What You Can Expect)
Editorial Standards I Actually Follow: Every recipe is tested minimum three times in my own kitchen before publication. All nutritional information is calculated using USDA database standards and verified by nutrition software. I update content regularly based on new research and community feedback.
Mistake Policy: When I mess up (and I do), I fix it immediately and tell you about it. Transparent corrections, updated timestamps, and honest explanations. No hiding behind corporate speak.
Response Commitment: I personally read every email sent to sarah@mealsfortoddlers.com and respond within 48 hours (usually much faster, often while hiding in my pantry). Complex questions might take longer, but you’ll always hear back from me.
Content Promise: No fluff, no Pinterest-perfect lies. Everything I share works in real kitchens with real kids. If I wouldn’t serve it to my own children, it doesn’t go live on the site.
Let’s Stay Connected (I Actually Read My Emails)
For Recipe Questions & Feeding Challenges: sarah@mealsfortoddlers.com – This comes straight to me, and I love helping troubleshoot specific situations.
For Technical Support: support@mealsfortoddlers.com – Our tech wizard Mike handles website issues, password resets, and subscription problems, usually within 24 hours.
Join Our Community: Our private Facebook group is where the real magic happens – daily support, recipe swaps, and celebration of feeding wins (and commiseration over the tough days).
Social Media: Follow our daily adventures on Instagram @mealsfortoddlers – real meals, real messes, real life with tiny food critics.
For Technical Support
Having trouble with your account or the website acting wonky? Our tech guru Mike personally handles every support email at support@mealsfortoddlers.com. He’s usually pretty quick (24-48 hours max), and yes, he actually enjoys solving these digital puzzles!
Common issues he can help with:
- Password resets and account access
- Email subscription problems
- Recipe download issues
- Mobile site functionality
- Newsletter delivery problems
Careers
Want to join our beautifully chaotic mission? We’re always looking for passionate people who understand that feeding toddlers is part art, part science, and part survival skill.
Right now we’re specifically looking for:
- Part-time recipe developer with child nutrition background
- Community manager who gets the parent struggle
- Content writer who can speak “exhausted parent” fluently
We’re a small, family-friendly team that believes in flexible schedules, real work-life balance, and the importance of good snacks. Send your interest to careers@mealsfortoddlers.com – and yes, we actually read every application!
For Writers
Love writing about toddler nutrition and family feeding? We’re always scouting for contributors who share our obsession with practical, realistic approaches to feeding little ones.
We look for writers who can blend personal parenting experience with solid nutritional knowledge – and who aren’t afraid to share their kitchen disasters along with their successes. We especially value diverse perspectives on cultural food traditions, special dietary needs, and feeding challenges.
What We’re Looking For:
- Personal experience feeding toddlers
- Understanding of child development and nutrition
- Ability to write in our warm, honest, parent-to-parent voice
- Evidence-based approach (no trendy nutrition myths, please!)
Send your pitch to writers@mealsfortoddlers.com with 2-3 published samples and your unique perspective on toddler feeding. Fair warning: we’re picky about voice and accuracy, but we’re incredibly supportive of our contributor family!
Last updated: August 2025 | Questions about this page? Email sarah@mealsfortoddlers.com
