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Grab-n-Go Snacks for Toddlers
Dozens of snacks marketed for toddlers are available at your local grocer, but many of them are processed with less wholesome and health promoting ingredients. Help your child develop healthy eating habits by making your own nutritious snacks. With a little planning, creativity, and preparation, a nutritious snack is within reach!
Plan First:
Before heading off to do your weekly grocery shopping, make a list of
some of your toddler's favorite snacks, or think of some new ones he/she
may like to try. Look up ideas from your favorite cookbook or magazine,
or try our ideas below. Make sure to include the ingredients on your
grocery list.
Get Creative:
Here are some nutritious ideas to arm your grab-n-go snack arsenal. Where
an asterisk (*) is found, please note that these snacks must be kept
at a safe temperature (less than 40°F) to prevent spoilage. Keep
these snacks in a refrigerator, cooler or insulated lunch sack with
ice.
- PB&J sandwich made with almond butter and fruit preserves
- Steamed and cooled edamame (soy beans)
- Bell pepper strips, cucumber slices and baby carrots dipped in hummus*
- Cut up fresh fruit dipped in yogurt*
- Dried fruit (try sulfite-free dried apricots, cranberries or dates)
- Homemade trail mix made with cereal, dried fruit, nuts or seeds, shaved coconut and chocolate chips
- Homemade zucchini muffins (or any homemade muffin of choice made with diced fruit, grated vegetables, even pumpkin puree!)
- Mixture of raisins or dried cranberries and oatmeal squares (or O's) cereal
- Whole grain crackers topped with your child's favorite cheese*
Prepare:
A little time spent preparing and assembling snacks for the day or week
ahead can shave hours from your hectic week.
- Keep a stash of recycled margarine or cottage cheese containers and lids, snack size baggies, or reusable containers on-hand for easy storage.
- Portion your snacks into these containers and refrigerate or line in your pantry to make a healthy grab-n-go treat available anytime!
Healthy Tips to Consider:
To make sure your growing toddler's snacks provide the biggest nutritional
bang for your buck, include at least two of the following key nutrients:
- Healthy Carbohydrates: A much-needed source of energy for your toddler, choose minimally processed carbohydrates, like whole grain cereals, crackers or bread, fresh whole fruits or vegetables.
- Protein: Necessary for your toddler's growing body, include healthy protein sources like cheese, milk, yogurt, chicken breast or beans.
- Healthy Fats: Most store-bought snack foods contain an imbalance of unhealthy fats. Avoid the saturated-fat trap by providing nuts, seeds, nut butters, olives, or avocados as snacks.
See Saving the Snack Emergency for more snack ideas.
Melissa Ohlson, MS, RD is the Nutrition Projects Coordinator for Preventive Cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic Heart & Vascular Institute. Melissa most recently coauthored a cookbook called Healthy Heart Lifestyle Guide and Cookbook for the Cleveland Clinic. She is also a nutrition coach for the Promise® Heart Coach Program™ , where her tips, articles and meal plans can be found at www.promisehealthyheart.com.
