Toddlers--children aged 1 to 3 years--need a structured meal plan of three meals and two or three snacks per day, according to the Kids Health website, which recommends feeding meals and snacks at the same time every day. Keep a variety of healthy snack foods stocked in the cabinets and refrigerators, and present your toddler with a few choices at snack time. The Healthy Children website suggests stocking snacks from the five different food groups: meat, dairy, fruit, vegetables and grains. Toddlers are often picky eaters, so let your child choose which and how much of the offered snacks they eat, but you decide when their snack time is and what snacks you will offer.
Meat and Protein
Meat and protein snacks should follow the same rules as meal suggestions: lean meats, no added fats and moderate portions. Keep choking risks in mind when selecting snack foods; older toddlers can have foods that are harder or take more chewing. Sliced hard-boiled eggs or baked chicken fingers with low-fat ranch dressing might be inappropriate for young children, but can make a satisfying snack for older toddlers. Peanut butter provides protein when added to appropriate fruits, vegetables or grain products. Roll up low-sodium, low-fat lunch meat spread with low-fat cream cheese, cut into pieces for younger toddlers. Include a spear of cooked asparagus for older children.
Dairy
Refrigerated or frozen yogurt and smoothies made of blended milk, fruit and ice make cool snacks for hot days. Offer low-fat string cheese or cubed low-fat cheese, as appropriate for your toddler's age. Pudding made with low-fat milk is another option, but be careful of the sugar content.
Fruit
Raw hard fruits such as apples, pears or berries may not be appropriate for young toddlers; try soft fruits such as ripe bananas or canned peaches in their own juice. Cook apple or pear chunks to soften them, or give applesauce with cinnamon and a bit of brown sugar. Older toddlers can have grapes cut in half or quarters. Try freezing grape pieces for a quick summer treat, or dip a banana in yogurt, roll it in crushed cereal and freeze it.
Vegetables
As with fruits, raw hard vegetables pose a choking risk to young toddlers. Cook or steam baby carrots, zucchini sticks, pepper strips or sweet potato fries, and serve with salsa, hummus or a yogurt dip. Older toddlers may be able to eat celery sticks spread with peanut butter or cream cheese and dotted with raisins. Juices that blend fruits with vegetables can help your toddler meet their necessary vegetable intake if they're reluctant to eat whole vegetables, but KidsHealth recommends limiting your child's juice intake to 4 oz. per day.
Grains
Whole-grain, graham or animal crackers, alone or with hummus or a yogurt dip, make a healthy snack, again depending on age and choking risk. Unsalted pretzel sticks, low-fat oatmeal cookies and pieces of bran muffin are also options for older toddlers. Sugar-free cereal rings or puffs provide carbohydrates and fiber for energy and healthy digestion.
