As a mother of a toddler, I hear a lot of moms complaining that they don’t know what to give their children for snacks. I see most parents/child caregivers giving their children the staples: cheese, bananas, puffs, crackers, cereal, goldfish, and other puffed snack food marketed to little ones. Here are some ideas that I recommend:
- all fruit: some great ones to take on the go are apple slices, raisins/dried cranberries, cut grapes, melon, blueberries
- vegetables with hummus or salad dressing: peas, carrots, steamed carrots, bell peppers, steamed broccoli or cauliflower
- whole wheat bread with peanut butter (ask your ped if it’s ok before 2) or hummus
- smoothie: milk, yogurt, frozen fruit
- yogurt with fruit and flaxseed
- mini pizza: 1/2 whole wheat english muffin with tomato sauce & cheese
- baked sweet potato fries
- trail mix: whole grain cereal & raisins/dried cranberries
- hard boiled egg
- turkey slices with cheese
- edamame
Guess what – these are the same foods you as adults should be eating! As you can see, most of these foods are the same ones you would include in your meals. I like to look at snack time as mini-meals and use it as an opportunity for your children to eat the nutrients he/she may be missing out on. If they don’t eat enough fruits or vegetables try to incorporate them in snacks. If fats are on the low side, add a healthy dose of peanut butter, guacamole, or hummus to whatever they are eating.
If you want to include a “typical” snack food try to pair it with something nutritious. My daughter’s favorite snack is pirates booty. Not the most nutritious – so it’s always paired with fruit or cheese or something that contains nutrients.
What’s your toddler’s favorite snack?
