When my first child was born, I was very strict about what she ate. Once she started solids, all her food was made at home and I only bought “organic” snacks, including little puffs and cereal bars. It is possible she didn’t try Goldfish until she was almost two!
Things were different when our son came around. I went from furiously wiping down any object or toy that touched the floor to frequently calling on the “5 second rule”, which I may have also applied to food items. Although we made most of his food at home, I became more relaxed about snacks (I wrote we and quickly realized my husband has probably never thought much about what snacks are our kids eat). Since he was born preemie, we did have to make an effort to have higher calorie food for him but I didn’t want that to mean unhealthy.
Now that both my kids are toddlers and have a lot to say about what they like and don’t like, I realized I needed many options to offer. You may be aware toddlers love something one minute and then look at you like you are the worst parent in the world for offering them the same thing the next day.
I have broken down snacks into two categories: ready to eat and those that need some prepping. My two main criteria: healthy and easy to make! I know the title says it’s toddler edition, but I think these snacks can apply to older children as well.
READY TO EAT SNACKS
- Fruits – these are my favorite snacks to give my kids! Berries, grapes, bananas, apples, oranges, clementine, watermelon, and avocado are some of the favorites in my house. Be sure to cut them appropriately depending on the age group.
- Cheese – string cheese is great but my kids will also go for sliced cheddar and sometimes (if the mood strikes), they even eat feta cheese. It is a good source of dairy!
- Nuts – regular peanuts are great for protein but if your child is more fancy, you can even go for pistachios. I stick with 100 calorie packs and avoid extra salt or sugar.
- Veggies – cucumbers are a favorite in my household right now; other veggies that are easy to eat as a snack include grape tomatoes and baby carrots. Not all kids will eat raw veggies but it is worth a try.
- Granola/cereal bars – reading the label is key here. A lot of these cereal bars will have a ton of extra sugar (organic does not mean healthy, so always read the label for sugar content!). Added sugars (table sugar, fructose, honey) should be limited to 25 grams per day in children 2-18. We are sticking with Kind bars right now, which have nuts and whole grains and less sugars than most.
- Unsweetened apple sauce (especially if it comes in a pouch!). My kids also love the fruit and veggie pouches.
- Turkey slices.
- Chips – I try to stick with whole grain snacks (even Goldfish has whole grain options), baked chips (veggie sticks and Stacy’s chips), and pretzels. Popcorn is also a good option, especially if air-popped with no added fat or sugars.
SNACKS THAT NEED PREPPING
- Whole wheat pita and hummus – cut up the pita in small triangles and serve with a side of hummus (my children eat the whole tub if I don’t separate a serving!)
- Avocado toast – stick with whole grain bread.
- Yogurt with berries (especially if Greek yogurt, which has extra protein).
- Veggies with dips or cottage cheese if you are lucky; my children won’t touch it! In all fairness, neither do I.
- Nut butters with celery, berries, or rice cakes.
- Hard-boiled eggs – my daughter enjoys helping me cut them with the egg slicer.
- Trail mix -you can make your own to avoid piece of chocolate or more sugary things with cereal, raisins, and nuts.
There you have it! There are many more involved recipes out there for healthy snacks but I really wanted to come up with a list that was both healthy, easy, and with low cost options. Eating three meals a day plus snacks in between is essential for children. Healthy fats are important for brain development and dairy has calcium and vitamins. Children that are prone to headaches can develop them at an early age if they are not eating frequently enough or getting enough protein.
Comment below with any healthy snack ideas you do for your children!
