Snacks should be an important part of your toddler's diet because they help fill in nutritional gaps left from mealtimes. If you find that your toddler eats only a few bites at breakfast, lunch and dinner, KidsHealth reports that healthy snacks will ensure that she eats enough and gets plenty of important nutrients. Offer your child two or three nutritious snacks each day to keep her full and healthy.
Banana with Peanut Butter
Your toddler can easily eat a sliced banana for a snack because it is soft enough to chew without having all of his teeth. A banana is a nutritious snack, Healthy Children notes, that provides some fiber and potassium. KidsHealth adds that banana slices are a good food for your toddler because, not only are they healthy, they are also easy for your little one to pick up and feed to himself. Adding peanut butter will increase your toddler's intake of protein, which is essential for proper muscle, tissue and bone growth and development. Cut a banana into thin slices and put a small smear of peanut butter on each one. Make sure the slices are small enough that they do not pose a choking hazard and that you only use a tiny amount of peanut butter, which can also be a choking hazard in large amounts.
Bagel and Cheese
Bread and grain foods are nutritious snack choices for your toddler because they supply fiber and several vitamins and minerals. They are also easy to cut up so your little one can feed herself. Healthy Children recommends a soft bagel as a healthy snack for your toddler, and KidsHealth adds that cheese is a good addition at snack time as well. Choose a whole wheat mini bagel and tear it into small pieces. Serve with low-fat cheddar or mozzarella cheese that has been shredded or cut into tiny squares. Melting the cheese on the bagel and then cutting is another healthy snack option. Cool the cheese completely before serving to your toddler.
Yogurt
Yogurt is another easy snack food for your toddler, Healthy Children notes, and it is easy to chew and he can feed it to himself. Eating yogurt also supplies your child with calcium for bone development and protein for energy and growth. Choose a low-sugar brand of yogurt to prevent a spike in blood sugar and to help keep the snack nutritious. Plain yogurt can be combined with other ingredients, such as frozen and chopped fruit or pureed vegetables, to change the taste while also adding additional nutrients.
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