As a mom that works as an Early Childhood Specialist that is also certified in nutrition, I know a thing or two about keeping a balanced diet for young children. In my home we also avoid artificial flavoring, synthetic food dyes, and other synthetic and artificial ingredients. As a single mom, I am also on a budget. That being said, it may be easier and cheaper than you think to feed your child a healthy balanced diet without all the extra and unnecessary junk. So, let’s talk about the top 5 healthy snacks for toddlers.
What to Serve with a Snack?
Fruit Juice-
Fruit juice should be served no more than one time a day. Additionally, children between the ages of 1 years old and 3 years old should have no more than 4 ounces of juice per day. Fruit Juice served should be pasteurized, have a low sugar content, and be 100% fruit juice. My personal favorite to give my child is organic apple juice or apple cider. I often mix an ounce or two with water. Be aware that juice is a known contributor to early tooth decay and cavities. An alternative to fruit juice could be coconut water, fruit infused water, or low sodium vegetable juice.
Milk-
Children under 3 years old should have whole milk. Children and adults over 3 years old should drink low fat milk or nonfat milk. If you prefer organic milk, like we do, you may find the Organic Dairy Scorecard useful. Click Here to access it.
Water-
Water is essential for all living beings. However, children under two years of age are at risk for water intoxication. In other words, too much water consumption could cause a dangerous depletion of necessary ingredients. After two years old, I recommend serving your child water with snacks of that contain two components in addition to when they’re very active. Like when they are running around outside.
The Best Healthy Snacks for Toddlers
Now you are probably screaming at me to get to the point. I totally get it. So here we are. Let’s talk about the top 5 healthy snacks for toddlers.
1) Whole Grain Crackers, Cheese Slice, and Water
Cheese and Crackers is a classic snack, that is perfect for on-the-go and it is most definitely a snack that is loved by toddlers. I generally prefer to buy blocks of cheese from the deli versus the dairy section of the grocery store. Additionally, you can use any kind of cheese you would like. We like gouda, Colby jack, and mozzarella. It is recommended that toddlers consume at least three servings of whole grains per day, crackers is a perfect time to get one of these servings in.
2) Lunch Meat, Tomatoes, Whole Grain Crackers, and Water
Lunch Meat, Cherry Tomatoes, and whole grain crackers served with water. All of my toddlers’ favorite things in one snack. This snack is awesome because it contains a protein, a vegetable, and a whole grain. It’s a bit less portable than cheese and crackers and requires a bit more prep, but it is worth it. You might even want to make extra for yourself. I like to make this with turkey breast or chicken breast. However, you could use whatever meat you wanted from ham to roast beef. Additionally, for children under two years of age the tomatoes should be cut into quarters to avoid choking. This is also true for foods like grapes, olives, etc.
3) Banana, Yogurt, and Water
Probably the messier snack on the list. However, this snack could also easily double as a breakfast if you added a side of breakfast sausage or some whole grain cheerios. However, fruit and a meat alternative is the perfect snack for a toddler. When selecting yogurt for your toddler, ensure that the yogurt has less than 23 grams of sugar per 6 ounces. Click Here if you want to learn how to make your own French Style Yogurt.
4) Almond Butter, Celery, Rasins, and Water
This snack is so much fun and is typically called ants on a log. For this snack you could use your favorite peanut butter, almond butter, or any other nut or seed butter. You could also use dried cranberries instead of Rasins if you wanted to. Celery is also great all by itself for children that are teething. I used to give my son a stick of celery to gnaw on before he was a year old. He loved it.
5) Whole Grain Crackers, Hummus, Shredded Carrot, and Water
This snack is probably my favorite. Only because I love to eat it too. For this I (as usual) recommend using whole grain crackers, plain hummus, and shredded carrots. Plain hummus is best because some children do not like the additional flavors in the other options. Additionally, shredded carrots are easier to eat for little ones than carrot sticks. You can either shred your own carrots or you can buy a bag of shredded carrots from your local grocery store.
What Snack are you Going to Make?
Let me know in the comments below what snack you will be serving your toddler. Fill out the form below to get my free toddler meal plan.
Balancing a healthy diet for toddlers can be challenging, but it’s definitely achievable with the right choices. Avoiding artificial ingredients and focusing on natural, nutrient-rich snacks is a great approach. Mixing fruit juice with water is a smart way to reduce sugar intake while still offering a tasty option. Cheese and crackers are a convenient and loved snack that provides both protein and energy. What other creative snack ideas can be included to keep toddlers interested in healthy eating?