Some cute ideas I've done with my toddler include 'cooking' sessions - I give her some safe vegetables and fruits (she loves miniature tomatoes!), a kid-friendly knife, and let her chop them up while I prep the rest of the meal. She feels involved and also learns about food and new textures and shapes!
I also sometimes make "snack necklaces" with her favorite snacks - like grapes, cereal, or cut-up veggies - on a string of shoelace or ribbon. It's fun for her to wear and eat as we head out the door in a pinch. We've also made our own yogurt tubes ice lollies together which she loves because it feels like such a treat!
When all else fails, I keep a "busy box" full of toddler-safe utensils and containers for her to play with - measuring cups, small strainers, anything with holes that she can posts the Cheerios or crackers into. Buy some cheapo kitchen gear at the dollar store and let their little hands go wild! It's not quiet but it sure is fun and buys you some time to prepare an actual meal!