During the toddler stage, your little one’s growth rate is rapid, and they may get hungry frequently. But you cannot always let them snack on unhealthy munchies like deep-fried items such as potato chips, soda/soft drinks, and high-sugar biscuits. What you can do instead is create healthy snack recipes for them, with ingredients that are readily available in your pantry. Plus, consuming healthy snacks can fulfill their nutritional requirements and also help them meet their daily calorie intake. You perhaps already know how toddlers are always game for some delicious and lip-smacking snacks! We bet they won’t even make a fuss while eating them.
Since coming up with new ideas for healthy snack recipes can be a wee bit tedious, we have created a list of some of the best nutritious snacks that are easy to prepare and delicious at the same time.
8 Best Snack Ideas For Toddlers
While snacking can be prepared with any food, the American Academy of Paediatrics recommends the following food categories for healthy snacking among children:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Protein-based snacks
- Dried fruits
- Dairy products
- Cereals and bread
Vegetable Rainbow Chips
Vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and keep your little one’s stomach full for longer hours. These thinly-sliced and colourful chips make for a delightful snack for your little one.
You will need:
- Thin chip-sized slices of sweet potatoes, carrots, and beetroots
- 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil
How to prepare:
- Preheat your oven to 200°C. Grease a baking tray with oil.
- Place the veggie chips on the baking tray and grease the slices with some oil.
- Place the tray into the oven and bake for 25 minutes or until the veggie slices shrivel and become light brown.
- Bring them out into the oven, and the colourful snack is ready for your toddler.
Peanut Butter Rolls
This three-ingredient recipe packs a punch of protein, fibre, and both macro and micronutrients. It will help fulfil your toddler’s nutritional intake and also keep them full for long hours.
You will need:
- ¼ slice of bread
- 2 cups of peanut butter
- 1 cup cereal
How to prepare:
- Mix the cereal and peanut butter in a bowl. Spread this mixture on a small piece of bread.
- Roll the bread tightly and refrigerate it for 3-4 hours, and the high-protein snack will be ready to serve to your toddler.
Corn Salad
Like most veggies, corn contains high levels of nutritional value and is rich in fibre, meaning it can give your toddler’s metabolism a boost. This is a perfect idea for a healthy salad, and you can even add a dash of lemon juice to it for a delightful tanginess.
You will need:
- 1 cup corn
- 1 cup finely chopped tomatoes and onions
- ½ cup fresh coriander
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
How to prepare:
- Boil the corn pieces until they are tender.
- Place it into a large bowl, and add the chopped onions, tomatoes, coriander leaves, salt, and lemon juice.
- Mix all the ingredients well and the veggies snack is all ready to consume.
Crackers With Fruit Puree
Fruits are also rich in essential nutrients and antioxidants that keep your child healthy and strengthen their immune system. They can be served in any form, such as juices, sliced pieces, or as a puree, like this recipe.
You will need:
- A packet of unsalted crackers
- 2 cups of fruits of your choice, such as pears, strawberries, or blueberries
- 1 cup water
How to prepare:
- Blend the fruits with water until it forms a thick puree. Spread the fruit puree on the crackers, and the snack is ready to eat.
- You can also refrigerate the snack for a few hours to thicken the fruit puree. This is an easy snack recipe that your toddler can take to their school as well.
Mini Pan Pizza
Nothing excites a toddler more than the sight of a cheese-loaded pizza, and these mini homemade pizza snacks are a 100% perfect for their evening munchies.
You will need:
- 1 cup finely chopped capsicum and carrots
- 1 cup of grated mozzarella cheese
- 3-4 slices of bread
- 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon of tomato ketchup
How to prepare:
- Put a few drops of oil in a pan, and place the bread slices with a small amount of ketchup on top of it.
- On a separate utensil, boil the veggies until they are tender, and then place them over the bread.
- Put the grated mozzarella on the slice and cover the pan with a lid. Cook the bread on low heat until the cheese melts. Cool the snack a tad bit, and then serve it to your toddler.
Cream And Dried Fruit Mix
If your child has a sweet tooth then you should definitely prepare this snack for them. It is packed with the natural sweetness of milk cream and dried fruits.
You will need:
- ½ cup of dried fruits like dried peaches, raising, and apples
- ½ cup of unsweetened low-fat cow milk cream
How to prepare:
- Mix the dried fruits and fruit cream in a large bowl.
- Take a muffin mold, and pour the mixture into each mold.
- Refrigerate the mold for about 4-5 hours. Unmold the snack and serve it chilled to your toddler.
Vegetable Wrap With Cheese Singles
Cheese is protein-rich and tasty, and can help in the healthy development of your child. Use cheese singles to create this yummy recipe for your toddler.
You will need:
- 1 cup cubed carrots and potatoes
- 1 cup corn
- 1 teaspoon of dried basil
- 2-3 cheese singles
How to prepare:
- Boil the veggies until they are completely tender.
- Take a cheese single and top it off with the chopped veggies.
- Sprinkle some dried basil on top and fold it into a roll, and the tasty cheese snack for your tot is ready.
Pan-Fried Tofu
If you want to up your toddler’s protein intake, this crispy tofu recipe is the perfect snack to consider. It is easy to prepare, low in calories, yet packs a ton of nourishment.
You will need:
- 2-3 cubed tofu pieces
- 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil
How to prepare:
- Heat the oil in the pan for a few minutes and place the tofu pieces to cook.
- Cook both sides of the tofu for two minutes each, over medium flame.
- Let the tofu cool a bit, and then serve the healthy snack to your toddler.
If done the right way, snacking can be an excellent way to meet your child’s nutritional needs. Healthy snacks contain tons of nutritious vitamins from different food categories that help provide your toddler with sufficient energy, and also aid in their proper growth and development. Trying out these delicious snack recipes will also make your toddler look forward to snack time.
Also read:
Fruit and vegetable smoothies for toddlers: Check out this amazing list of fruit and vegetable smoothies for toddlers that offer multiple health benefits.
Featured image: Pexels.com
