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Step 1
Supply fresh fruit. Young children enjoy the natural sweetness of fresh fruit. Bananas are a favorite fruit that is readily available all seasons. Serve the bananas sliced and covered in peanut butter. To make a frozen banana, peel the fruit and place a popsicle stick in one end. Wrap in plastic wrap and place in the freezer. Teething babies and toddlers enjoy the frozen bananas. Additional ways for babies and toddlers to snack on fruit is to cut up their favorite fruits and make a fruit salad. Be sure to slice any grapes before serving them to young children. Kids love to dip their food. Use yogurt as a dip for the fruit. Also, make frozen fruit juice pops by pouring 100% juice into popsicle molds before freezing.
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Step 2
Include dairy products as healthy snacks for babies and toddlers. After slicing a block of cheese, cut into shapes with a small cookie cutter. Purchase string cheese for quick handling. Make fruit and yogurt smoothies in a blender. Cottage cheese mixed with fruit, like peaches, also provides a snack including the dairy and fruit food groups.
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Step 3
Add carbohydrates and fiber in a toddler or baby diet with whole grains and bread. Whole grain crackers, graham crackers and fortified cereals are options to include as a healthy snack. Mix up a toddler version of trail mix to carry on the go. The trail mix can contain items such as toasted oat cereal, pretzels and small graham cracker pieces.
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Step 4
Encourage vegetables. Some babies and toddlers try to stay away from eating healthy vegetables. Slightly cooking, or blanching, a vegetable makes the texture easier for toddlers and babies to handle. Carrots, squash and broccoli all are softer and easier to eat for young children after cooking slightly. Shell and bake edamame for a crunchy snack. Serve carrots with a bit of ranch dressing and celery with peanut butter for an enjoyable snack.
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Step 5
Spread peanut butter on toast or a bagel to offer protein in a simple snack. Avoid nuts or chunky peanut butter since they pose a choking hazard. Ham and turkey rolls help add protein to a toddler’s diet. Dice leftover chicken and serve with a dipping sauce. Beans, served smashed on a tortilla roll, offer a toddler another healthy snack option.
