Toddlers are quite energetic, making it necessary to offer a variety of snacks between meals to prevent them from getting hungry.
You need to offer healthy snacks for toddlers to allow them to get adequate minerals and vitamins.
Most children need a snack in the morning and afternoon but they should be well timed to avoid interfering with their main meals.
Here are some options you can consider.
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Fresh Fruit
Fruits are a delicious and colorful snack choice.
They also offer plenty of fiber, minerals, and vitamins.
Give your child some sliced apples, pears, peaches, bananas or nectarines.
You can also serve pitted and smashed plums, cherries, and grapes.
Toddlers enjoy finger foods and fresh fruits offer an easy way for them to eat nutritious snacks.
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Dried Fruit
Slice some dried prunes, pears, dates, raisins, apricots or peaches and serve them with applesauce for an afternoon or morning snack.
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Vegetables
Teach your toddler to snack on different vegetables.
Serve well cooked and diced green beans, potatoes or carrots.
You can also offer steamed broccoli and cauliflower.
Peas can are a good choice as well but they should be mashed to prevent choking.
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Dairy Products
Dairy is a wonderful source of calcium and healthy fats for your child.
Choose full fat products for children below two years.
Some of the best options include diced or grated cheese, fresh or frozen yoghurt, and milk.
Cheese can be served with some chopped fruit or mixed with carrots and peas to create a wholesome snack.
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Fruit Juice
Make fresh juice for your child. Avoid adding sugar to the juice and offer a maximum of one cup a day.
Fresh juice pairs well with crackers.
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Cereals and Breads
Whole grain cereals and breads can also be offered as snacks.
Serve small pieces of bagels, crackers, rice cakes, whole wheat bread, or pretzels.
You can add a thin layer of peanut butter or cheese on the breads to make a nutritious snack.
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Eggs
Give your child some scrambled eggs between their meals.
You can add cheese or turkey to make them more nutritious.
Boiled eggs can also be a great snack.
You can prepare several eggs over the weekend and refrigerate them.
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Fruit Smoothies
A smoothie can be a healthy snack for toddlers.
Some of the ingredients you can use include bananas, milk, berries, and yoghurt.
Frozen fruits tend to work better when you are making smoothies.
Blend the ingredients to get a smooth consistency.
