Healthy Toddler Snacks

Is your child too busy playing to stop and eat? When he does slow down for a snack, does he take only 2 bites and race back to what he was doing? If you answered yes to these questions, you are probably the parent of a toddler. With such erratic eating habits, it is important you provide healthy, nutritious snacks for your toddler.

Nutrient Density

A general rule of thumb when it comes to healthy toddler snacks is to aim for nutrient density and avoid empty calories.  Nutrient density is the ratio of nutrients to calories and essentially means getting the greatest amount of nutrients in the least amount of calories. Calorie restriction is not recommended for toddlers; however, you can get more bang for your buck when it comes to food choices. Empty calories are those foods high in calories, but providing very little to no nutrients – sugary drinks or soda are examples.

Keep in mind, as stated in the toddler feeding guide, your child may only want to eat crackers for several days. This is perfectly normal so just keep offering other food options and eventually she will want something else.  If you are still nursing 3-4 times per day, know that she is getting plenty of nutrients from breast milk. If you have weaned her off the breast, limit milk to 2-3 cups per day as this may replace her desire to eat other foods. 

 A few simple rules for toddler snacking:

Kids love finger foodsAim for nutrient densityAvoid Empty CaloriesLet them grazeKeep in mind they have tiny tummies

 Power Packed Snacks

Although snacks are not meant to replace meals, they can be a good opportunity to provide the nutrients he might have missed when he refused to eat his lunch.  Here are some toddler snacks that are fun and healthy:

  Hit the Trail Mix: mix dried fruit and his favorite dried cerealBanana-sickles: stick ½ banana on a Popsicle stick, spread on some nut butter, and roll in cereal or granolaEggs-citing: eggs are a great source of iron and protein. Try a hard-boiled egg, an afternoon omelet, or egg salad in a mini pita pocketCheese Please: cheese is a great source of calcium, try cheese cubes or string cheese with some grapesSlice it up: you can’t go wrong with fresh fruit; try sliced apples, pears, or oranges. Serve with some nut butter to dipVeggie dip: try raw carrot or celery sticks, steamed broccoli or peapods with a side of ranch dressingSmooth Sailing: mix frozen berries, a splash of milk, ½ banana, and a few scoops of plain or vanilla yogurt