Healthy Snacks for Babies & Toddlers

Since babies and toddlers tend to eat smaller amounts at mealtime, it is appropriate for them to snack throughout the day to keep them going between meals. You want to make every snack count, so it's important to make sure the snacks you serve are healthy ones. Try serving snacks containing fruits, vegetables, calcium, protein or whole grains to boost your child's nutrient intake.

  1. Snacks for Infants

    • There are lots of healthy snack choices to feed babies once they are eating finger foods. Fruits are easy snacks that need little preparation. Softer fruits, like bananas and kiwi, can be diced and served. Harder fruits, like pears and apples, may need baking and dicing so that babies can eat them easily. Applesauce and fruit cups in natural juices are also easy choices. Another healthy snack idea for babies is diced avocado, a great source of healthy fats needed for brain development.

      If your baby does not have any dairy allergies, yogurt and cheese (cut into cubes) provide both calcium and protein that he needs. If your baby does have a dairy allergy, try soy yogurt for a snack, but read the label carefully, because there are a few soy yogurt brands that contain cow's milk. Whole grain cereals, like Cheerios, don't contain much sugar and are also healthy choices.

    Snacks for Toddlers

    • Toddlers can eat any of the snacks mentioned above but because they are older, they have more options. Toddlers may also be pickier eaters, so you may have to be creative and "dress up" your snacks a little.

      Add some calcium to your toddler's diet by melting cheese in a whole-grain tortilla to make a cheese quesadilla. Serve it with some mild salsa or homemade guacamole to add even more nutrients. Let your toddler add some diced fruit to her yogurt and mix it herself. Toddlers love to help in the kitchen and may be more likely to try things that they've helped make. For cool treat, make a smoothie by combining milk, frozen fruit and yogurt in your blender.

      Toddlers love to dip. Try serving hummus with whole-grain pita chips or crackers. Hummus contains both fiber and protein. Older toddlers can dip carrot and celery sticks, strips of raw bell pepper and cucumber slices into hummus or ranch dressing. Peanut butter is another great dip for toddlers, and apple slices, pretzels or crackers keep the snack healthy. Be sure to check with your toddler's doctor about when it's okay to introduce peanut butter, especially if you have a family history of food allergies.

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