There are many wonderful snack ideas for toddlers that are healthy, creative, and fun. Watch out for many parenting and healthy eating websites which seem to list raw vegetables as a healthy toddler snack; these are considered choking hazards until age four.
- Fresh fruit (almost anything, there are so many wonderful fruits: sliced strawberries, blueberries, sliced grapes, apple, pear, melon or banana pieces, peaches, plums, nectarines, orange slices, frozen fruit bars, applesauce)
- Dried fruit (such as apple, apricot, peaches, banana, cut into pieces), raisins, sliced dates, sliced prunes
- Cooked carrot pieces, cooked green beans (leftovers), steamed broccoli or cauliflower, cooked potato or sweet potato pieces
- Cheese, cut into small pieces or grated (this is messy!)
- Cottage cheese
- Cream cheese (spread on crackers)
- Yogurt (try to avoid the ones with the most added sugar)
- Milk
- Whole grains: bread slices, bagel pieces, English muffins, pita bread, crackers, dry cereal, pretzels, bran muffins, whole grain chips, wheat germ (add to yogurt)
- Proteins such as peanut butter (spread thinly), hummus, tuna fish, boiled egg (sliced), scrambled egg, nut butters
- Hazelnut-chocolate spread (e.g. Nutella)
It is a great idea to combine these as well, such as:
- Peanut butter spread on crackers, breads, or fruit (e.g. apple slices)
- Pretzels or fruit dipped in yogurt
- Fruit and cheese
- Quesadillas (grated cheese, whole wheat tortilla), with or without salsa
- Mini-bagel pizza
- Whole grain chips dipped in hummus or salsa
- Berries in yogurt
- Dry cereal dipped in yogurt
- Applesauce as a dip
- Smoothies are a great way to get lots of fruits and even vegetables in the diet
- Cream cheese on a bagel
- Honey, fruit, applesauce, or sliced tomatoes added to cottage cheese
- Cheesestick dipped in crushed crackers or applesauce or dry cereal
Make it fun! Make fruit kabobs or smiley faces. Use cookie cutters on cheese, fruit, sandwiches, or bread.
Snack portion sizes:
- ½ cup (4oz) milk
- ½ cup dry cereal
- ½ banana
There are many more great snacks and snack ideas once your child turns four and can eat foods that are considered choking hazards, such as nuts, raw celery and carrot sticks, things dipped in peanut butter, granola, homemade trail mix, etc.
