Toddlers need snacks that are not only nutritious, but also safe to eat. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that toddlers get approximately three nutritious snacks each day. Active toddlers require frequent meal and snack times to provide energy and help them obtain the nutrients they need for growth and development. A pediatrician or registered dietitian can also help provide you with tips and meal plans customized to meet your toddler's needs, especially if food allergies or dietary restrictions need to be taken into account.
Fruits and Vegetables
If your toddler is not thrilled with the idea of eating fresh fruits and vegetables, try presenting them in a more toddler-friendly way. Make "ants on a log" by adding cream cheese and raisins to celery sticks. If your pediatrician gives the okay for peanut butter, you can substitute it for the cream cheese to increase the protein content of the snack. Offer a low-fat dressing or hummus for your toddler to dip vegetables. Try softer vegetables such as peeled cucumber slices, halved cherry tomatoes and bell peppers, or cooked vegetables such as steamed baby carrots, until your toddler can safely eat all raw vegetables without the risk of choking. Peeling fresh fruits and halving grapes also minimizes choking hazards.
Whole Grains
Starting toddlers on whole grain breads and pastas will make future choices for healthier grains easier. Whole grain tortilla chips with mild salsa or guacamole for dipping or baked wheat pita wedges with low-fat cheese are some healthy choices. Also, bran muffins, whole grain unsweetened cereal and wheat crackers are other snack options that can help your child get their recommend serving of grains. Be cautious of popcorn and dry pretzels, which can pose a choking hazard.
Calcium-Rich Foods
Calcium is an important nutrient necessary for bone growth and development, particularly in toddlers. Snack time provides a great opportunity to increase your child's calcium intake. In addition to offering whole milk to toddlers under the age of two or reduced fat milk to older children, yogurt and low-fat cheese sticks are healthy snacks for children.
Healthy Proteins
Adding a bit of protein to your toddler's snack can help give them sustainable energy and tide over their hunger until meal time. For children whose pediatrician has given the go-ahead for peanut butter, adding a bit to fresh fruits or whole grain crackers can boost the protein of the snack. Other protein-rich snack options include boiled eggs, cheese sticks, yogurt and cottage cheese.
Member Comments