Healthy Snacks for Toddlers

Healthy snacks for toddlers are important because children at that age can be such inconsistent eaters.   They are very active and often too busy playing and exploring to sit down and eat.  Toddlers may have great appetites at certain meals, while at other meals they may not be interested in eating much at all.  Providing your toddler with regularly scheduled meals and snacks is key.  Giving them five opportunities to eat throughout the day is ideal: Three meals with two snacks in between.

   It is best to provide as much balance as possible with every meal and snack

What to look for in a snack:

Look for nutrient dense foods when choosing healthy snacks for toddlers.  It is best to provide as much balance as possible with every meal and snack because you never know how much your toddler will eat at any given point.  Your toddler does not need protein at every meal and snack, for example, but if you offer it at each of their five opportunities to eat, there is a greater chance they will end up eating enough protein by the end of the day.  Providing your child with balanced snacks will also help prevent spikes and sudden drops in blood sugar levels, which can lead to more frequent meltdowns.

Here are some guidelines for choosing healthy snacks for toddlers:

• Focus on whole/unprocessed foods.
• Include at least one fruit or vegetable.
• Include a source of fat or protein.

Some examples of healthy snacks for toddlers are fruit and yogurt, apple slices with almond butter, veggie sticks and hummus or homemade fruit/veggie muffins.

Here are a some of my healthy snack recipes for kids  and healthy treats for kids that are packed with nutrients:

Almond Date Rolls: This recipe contains only two ingredients and something your toddler can help you make.

Chocolate Pudding: Made with avocado and banana, your child won’t even realize they are eating a healthy snack.

Kale Chips If your child prefers salty snacks over sweet, these kale chips are a big hit with kids.

Honey-Maple Seed Cookies A tasty treat that is loaded with calcium, iron, fibre and omega 3 fats.