10 Ideas for Healthy Food Snacks Toddlers Will Love

I’ve spoken about this to you guys before in “breakfast for supper” but I’ve got to say it again… please don’t worry if your toddler is being fussy about what they eat. What a toddler wants to eat can change from week to week! Whilst they might love carrots, apples and celery one day, the next day they may refuse to eat any of those things. You’re not doing anything wrong, it’s just how kids can be sometimes!

So with that in mind, I wanted to draw up a list of some great, healthy snack ideas that toddlers (most of the time) will love. My two can get a bit grumpy if they refuse to eat their meals. I find that keeping some nutritious snacks handy can be a lifesaver for hungry children and also their harangued parents!

Firstly grab yourself a tupperware and take a selection of snacks wherever you go. They take a couple of minutes to throw together in the morning but can save you hours of hassle! Believe me!

Pitta pockets

Cut some mini pitta breads in half and pop in a filling. If you’re throwing it in the tupperware I like to stick with something easy and quick like a square of ham and a shred of lettuce.

Yoghurt

Yoghurt is a healthy snack and gentle on the stomach. It’s also a great source of much needed calcium for growing kids. You can get good quality natural yoghurt and mash some fruit into it like banana (that’s a nice, easy one) strawberry or another soft fruit just to make it more interesting.

Yoghurt can be found in handy kids size packs in most supermarkets. I usually chuck one in the tupperware just in case!

Eggs

Hard boiled eggs are irresistible, especially if you can swipe a tiny taste of mayo on them. They can get a bit crumbly but it’s usually easy to brush off.

Cheese

Cheddar cheese slices or mini gouda babybels are a great source of protein and calcium. They’re also really filling!

Nut butters

Smooth peanut or almond butter is an all time favourite and can usually keep kids quiet. Try to go for an organic brand when possible as they’re a bit more nutritious. If peanut butter is a bit too salty or nutty tasting for your toddlers taste buds, popping a small squeeze of honey onto it should help!

Add the peanut/almond butter to some crackers, rusks or some soft bread and you’ll manage to glue your toddler's mouth together for a good few seconds (a welcome treat if your little one’s been screaming).

Cereal

Porridge or a wheat cereal makes a great snack, especially as you’re adding milk in too. If you’re out and about, fill a small sealable bag with a handful of cereal that can be eaten without milk. Make sure you’ve got some water handy as dry cereal can be a bit scratchy on the throat!

Vegetable crisps

Why not try making your own vegetable crisps at home. I have to admit I’ve never actually tried this but it looks like something that would taste amazing. Here’s the link to a recipe for some baked vegetable crisps that I found online. Use less salt for little ones, you can always add more later if you fancy a snack.

Fruit balls

Fruit and seed balls and soft, sweet and full of goodness. If you’re lucky enough to have a food processor you can throw some dry apricots, dates and cherries. After mixing them, smush in some coconut oil, divide into balls then roll in sesame seeds. Pretty easy but almost irresistible for sweet toothed toddlers.

Fruit & Veg

This is a super obvious one but it’s also one of the easiest to prepare and you can always just pop some aside for the next day when you’re making lunch or dinner. They also make less mess than your average snack - always a bonus, especially when on the go. Try these:

• Orange segments
• Apple slices
• Halved seedless grapes (always halved or they can be a choking hazard)
• Sliced peppers
• Sliced strawberries
• Raspberries
• Celery sticks
• Carrot sticks
• Banana

Homemade lollies

Try your toddler with a homemade fruit and fruit juice lolly. Mash up some fruit and chuck it together with a bit of fruit juice and thin fruit slices then freeze it all in one of those lolly moulds you can get in most supermarkets. It’s the perfect soother for a hot and bothered toddler, you won’t even mind when it drips all over their face.

Hopefully there’s a few ideas to keep your toddlers happy (or at least less hangry) before dinner. If you’ve got any fail safe snack ideas, we’d love to know!

There’s loads of healthy food ideas popping up on the blog soon. You can check them out and let us know your food ideas by following our Instagram (add address if you can post new blogs on the instagram) and @ us on your posts!