Healthy Snack Ideas for Toddlers

Is your child too busy, or full, to eat too much at mealtime? Healthy snacks help young children get the nutrients they need to grow big and strong. Read more: 11 Healthy Snacks That Can Help You Lose Weight.

Despite what your mom used to tell you when you were a kid, snacking shouldn't ruin your appetite. In fact, when it comes to young children, healthy snacks should be a staple of their diet.

Why? It is practically impossible for small babies with small stomachs to eat all they need at mealtime. And even if that were possible, it would be difficult to get your child to sit at the table long enough to have a large meal (young children are more interested in playing than eating, after all).

This means that nutritious snacks are needed to fill in food gaps and to keep those little stomachs full. And if that's not reason enough to stick to healthy snacking, consider this bonus: snacking at regular intervals means fewer accidents caused by hunger.

How Often Should Young Children Snack?

What is the best meal plan for your child? This solution will help your child recognize when he is hungry and when he is full, and he will lay a good foundation for maintaining a healthy weight throughout his life:

Think of small meals. Instead of three squares a day, aim for a meal or snack every two to three hours. This will keep your baby's tummy comfortable and blood sugar and energy levels stable for her active lifestyle.\
Keep a schedule. Here's a little breakdown of the meals: breakfast, a healthy mid-morning snack, lunch and another healthy afternoon snack, dinner, and maybe a healthy snack before bed.
Avoid grass. Try not to let your child constantly nibble during the day. Eating habits all the time can lead to overeating and weight gain.

What are the best healthy snacks for kids?

Now that you know when to serve those healthy snacks, the next hurdle is knowing what those healthy snacks should look like. Ideally, baby snacks should consist of a mixture of carbohydrates, protein, and fruits or vegetables.

But in a pinch, you can simply offer your child a meal from whatever food group they missed at mealtime. For example, if your child eats whole grain waffles for breakfast, they are high in carbohydrates, so at snack time you can serve a slice of cheese (to cover dairy and protein) along with some fruit minced (for example), fiber and nutrients. ). Or if your child has a turkey burger with whole wheat bread (protein and fiber) for dinner, she can offer him a mix of berries with yogurt (more nutrients and fiber along with dairy) for dessert later in the evening.

Tips for Young Children to Snack Successfully

Offer snacks for the right reasons. Instead of offering your baby snacks when he is bored or hurt, try other distractions, such as fun games or spending more time with the mother. And while a cookie may seem like the perfect reward for a good job, it's best to punch.
Keep snack time safe. Allowing your young child to lie down, crawl, or walk can present a choking hazard. Instead, offer snacks only when your child is sitting, either in a high chair or in a high chair. Always make sure the ingredients in snacks are safe for your child to eat.
Treat snack time the same way you treat mealtime. Serve snacks the same way you serve meals: at the table. Not only is it safer, it will also teach you your table manners and reduce the amount of crumbs on your sofa cushions. If you're outside during your regular snack time, it's perfectly fine to give your child a snack in the stroller or car seat. Just make sure you don't offer snacks every time you tie your baby inside to make up for tight spaces.
Consider giving him a snack before bed. A young child's blood sugar level could drop during a long night of sleep (hopefully), which could cause your baby to wake up earlier than he does. A bedtime snack (or even a nap) can help you get settled in earlier and sleep better. For bedtime snacks, try a protein / carbohydrate mix, such as a cup of milk and a graham cracker or cheese cracker. Avoid caffeinated chocolate, which can keep your child awake longer.
Drink snacks without stopping in the bud. Schedule your snacks at specific times of the day and don't let food slip away. Continuous grazing can cause cavities, limit a child's play, and prevent her from learning to regulate her appetite properly.
Make it colorful. When foods are naturally vibrant in color (think red raspberries, not raspberry-flavored snacks), this is a sure sign that they are full of nutrients your baby needs. Try to include as many colors of the rainbow as possible in your child's meals: red tomatoes and strawberries. Orange carrots, potatoes and melons. Blueberries, Yellow Corn, Mango. Green kiwi and broccoli. (Remember to cut only raw fruits and vegetables into very small slices to avoid choking hazard). When it comes to pimples, the color is better too. Choose deeper colors of rice, bread, and grains over lighter colored varieties.
Keep sugar and salt to a minimum. Eating foods high in sugar and salt can lead to health problems in adulthood, such as high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, and more. Unfortunately, once your toddler tastes sugar and salt, it can be hard to back down. Keep these sweet and savory snacks to a minimum now, and you'll find it easier to get them to eat properly as they get older.