Your kid is no longer a baby, but not yet a big kid. What do you feed him? Toddlers are eating on their own, and deciding what they do and do not like. Check out these ideas for healthy snacks to feed your hungry toddler.
Fruit Bowl Dip
Arrange some toddler-sized fruits on a platter such as blueberries, raspberries and sliced banana in a bowl. Add a dip in the middle of the plate such as plain vanilla yogurt. Our little ones love to dip and this will add extra protein and calcium to his diet.
Ants on a Log
Spread some peanut butter on small sticks of celery. Top with raisins or another type of sliced, dried fruit.
English Muffin Pizzas
Take four split English muffins, and place them cut side up on a sheet lined with tin foil. Top them with about a half can of pizza sauce and shredded cheese. Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Let cool and enjoy.
Cracker and Protein Stacks
Take small crackers and top them with thin slices of cheese. Then put on thinly-sliced vegetables or meat, such as deli turkey or pepperoni slices.
Healthy Chicken Nuggets
Pan-fried chicken nuggets are a healthier alternative to fried nuggets, and are still tasty. Take a boneless, skinless chicken breast, and cut it into one-inch pieces. Beat two eggs in a bowl. Put two cups of Italian or stale bread crumbs in another bowl. Dip the chicken into the egg, and then roll in the bread crumbs. Cook the nuggets in a large nonstick pan on high heat until they are golden. Serve with mayonnaise or ketchup.
Smoothies
Toddlers love slurping up smoothies! For a simple one, blend a half a banana, one-quarter cup of milk or soy milk, one-quarter cup of yogurt and a handful of frozen berries in a blender until smooth. Drink up. If you have some smoothie mixture left over, put it into Popsicle molds, freeze and enjoy as a healthy fruit pop later.
Cereal “Jewelry”
Get your toddler to eat their snack by making cereal “jewelry.” Arrange their favorite cereals on a piece of thread, and tie it to make a bracelet or a necklace. This can be eaten on the go or at home. Make sure to tell them to not eat the thread.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Rollups
Mix peanut butter with a crispy cereal. Spread the mixture on half of a slice of bread with jelly. Carefully roll it up before serving.
Fun Toast
Toast a slice of whole grain bread. Top with honey, nut butter, berries, sliced avocado, eggs or anything else you can come up with. For a cute toast, spread a thin layer of nut butter on the bread. Top with ears, eyes and a smile for a beary good snack.
Make these for your toddler today. Enjoy!
About the Author
Jess Miller is the editor of Parent.Guide and mother to a beautiful family, providing guidance across parents’ whole lives, not just the early years with her site with insights and parenting expertise after being a full-time nanny for almost a decade.
