Toddlers need several healthy snacks each day to encourage healthy growth and development. Offering the right snacks increases nutrient intake and energy so that your child's body gets what it needs to stay healthy. Quick snacks are ideal for parents who need a snack for daycare, shopping or at home, but it can be a challenge to come up with easy snack ideas that also offer health benefits. To prevent choking, be sure your child's snack is an appropriate size for his age and ability to chew.
Frozen Fruit Juice Pops
Most toddlers like a frozen treat on hot days and using 100 percent fruit juice offers many of the same benefits that fresh fruit does. Choose a juice with no added sugar and pour it into a mold and freeze until solid. Fruit contains antioxidants that can help protect a toddler from developing many health conditions including cancer and heart disease. Vitamins A and C and fiber are present in many fruits, but the fiber content is reduced when juiced. Try 100 percent fruit juice combinations to create different flavors and incorporate a variety of nutrients into your toddler's snack.
Cheese
Cheese is a good source of protein and is toddler-friendly. Low-fat options keep calories and saturated fat under control and come in a variety of forms including shredded, sliced and cubed. Cheese also offers a healthy dose of calcium to support a toddler's growing bones and teeth. Try skewering cheese with fruit or on pretzel sticks to increase its appeal. Use cookie cutters to create fun shapes in cheese slices for a child who may otherwise turn his nose up at it.
Cereal
Most toddlers enjoy dry cereal as a snack -- and it is both fast and healthy. Choose those made with whole grains because they contain complex carbohydrates to keep a child's energy up, as well as fiber to regulate digestion and control cholesterol. Avoid any with large amounts of added sugar because too much of the sweet stuff can lead to insulin resistance and diabetes. Cheerios are a toddler-friendly choice. For a more filling meal, serve whole grain cereal with milk. This will satisfy hunger and increase calcium intake at the same time.
Yogurt
Many types of yogurt are marketed for toddlers. Choose those that are low in sugar to give your toddler a dose of protein and calcium without the added calories. Another option is to buy plain yogurt and mix in small chunks of fresh fruit and a drizzle of honey for sweetness. Children under 1 year of age should not eat honey due to risk of botulism. Freezing yogurt creates a popsicle-like snack that is also nutritious. Granola is an alternate topping for toddlers as long as it does not contain whole nuts, which can pose a choking hazard.
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