9 Fun & Easy Toddler Snacks
Whether you're going out for a weekend, a road trip, a playdate, or packing a daycare or preschool lunch, these nutritious toddler treats should help keep your kid happy and full. At Matchstick Monkey, we have included a good blend of nutritious home-made toddler snack ideas. Plus, they all taste delicious - even if you are struggling with a toddler who is a picky eater (trust me, i’ve been there!)
Snack Idea #1: Blueberry Banana Muffins
Made without nuts, gluten, or dairy, these fluffy muffins get their flavour from two varieties of fruit and might be even tastier on the second (or third) day! If allergies aren’t a problem for your toddler, you can choose to cover them in a honey drizzle, cream cheese or nut butter.
Snack Idea #2: Soft Granola Bars
These granola bars make the perfect daily snack for your toddler. They're egg-free and have healthy fats and complex carbs — so they'll provide your little one with balanced energy and nutrition. For even more flavour, apply some dry snipped fruit to the mix!
Snack Idea #3: Sandwich Cubes
If your little one enjoys sandwich fillings such as peanut butter, jam, cheese or lunch meats - a simple sandwich will work wonders for them. Sandwich cubes are easy to prepare and are filling too! You can choose to cut these into cubes or pretty shapes for the perfect snack. Check out my youngests favourite sandwich recipe.
Snack Idea #4: Cheese & Crackers
Crackers cater to nearly all children and there are a number of yummy choices you can have with crackers that provide your toddler with the nutritious ingredients they need. If your toddler can't do dairy, add protein from nut butter, hummus or beans.
Snack Idea #5: Fresh Fruit
Tiny oranges, apples, pears, and bananas, grapes sliced vertically, blueberries, strawberries and cubed melon are some of my children’s favourite fruits. For a healthy snack, pair it with a nut butter, milk or yoghurt for a balanced snack. For even more fun, check out this rainbow fruit skewer recipe.
Snack Idea #6: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls
With natural sweetness and flavours of desserts like cookie dough, these little bites are yummy and full of nutritional value. Incase your little one has a peanut allergy, use sunflower seed butter.
Snack Idea #7: Banana Pancakes
I'm not sure what it is, but so many toddlers love snacking on pancakes. This delicious recipe is packed with healthy ingredients such as bananas, oats and eggs. To finish, serve the pancakes with some yoghurt, honey or their favourite fruit!
Related: Pancake Recipes
Snack Idea #8: Smoothies
One of the best ways of helping your infants and older children eat more fruits and vegetables is to pack them into smoothies. Starting with one master smoothie recipe and changing it depending on what your kids want (and any food allergy concerns), you will maximise the chance that they'll eventually drink it — which is obviously essential! These smoothie recipes are flexible and versatile.
Snack Idea #9: Veggie Snacks
Snap peas, thinly sliced carrot sticks, sliced or cubed cucumber, sliced zucchini, halved cherry tomatoes, and thawed frozen peas or maize are great options for snack-time. For a healthy snack, you can pair them with cheese or yoghurt. Alternatively, you can try this yummy paleo flower power snack.
4 Things to Do When Choosing Toddler Snacks
Even the best chewers, particularly excited toddlers, may get distracted. Be sure to make toddlers sit down and eat their meal. Regardless of the form of food a distracted eater is a threat. Below are few additional tips about how to pack fun and nutritious snacks:
- Keep Things Colorful
- Add a Handful of Crunch
- Cut Out Shapes
- Make Safety a Priority
What foods should toddlers avoid?
Always consider choking hazards when packing toddler snacks. The most common choking hazards include hot dogs, round fruit and vegetables, hard candy, whole nuts, popcorn and marshmallows.
Use this guide to choking prevention to avoid choking hazards and pack safe foods.