Your growing toddler needs to
snack quite a few times a day in addition to eating regular meals
with the rest of the family. Here are a few quick and easy snack
ideas that you can put together in just a few minutes. You toddler
will enjoy these yummy snacks.
Ham and Cheese Crackers Cut up some
pieces of ham and cheese and serve them with some crackers. If you
want to make it fun, use a cookie cutter to cut fun shapes out of
the cheese.
Fruit Dip Caution, this
can get a little messy! Cut up some
fruit in bite size chunks and serve with a small bowl of yogurt.
Encourage your toddler to dip the fruit in the yogurt. This is an
easy way to get your toddler to eat a serving of fruit, while also
getting some extra calcium and protein in his/her diet from the
yogurt.
Low Sugar Cereal I always keep a
box of low sugar cereal like cheerios in my pantry. They make a
great snack with a little milk, or even just a bowl of dry cereal.
Dry cereal also make a great take-along snack. Just throw a serving
in a Ziploc bag and toss it in your purse.
Veggies and Dip Keep some cut up
veggies in the fridge. Small pieces of carrot, peeled cucumber,
celery as well as small sections of broccoli and cauliflower all
make great finger food for toddlers. Make sure the pieces are very
small to prevent choking or steam them to soften them up. Serve
with a little ranch dressing if desired.
Peanut Butter Sandwich A PB&J has been
a snack staple for ages. Mix things up by toping the peanut butter
with some thin slices of apple or banana instead of the jelly. Or
try smearing the peanut butter on a tortilla. Add jelly and roll it
up. Cut the rolled up tortilla into strips for a fun new way to eat
a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Quick Cheese Quesadilla Place a soft
tortilla on a microwave safe plate. Top one half with cheese and
fold the other half over it. Microwave 30-60 seconds or until the
cheese is melted. Cut into wedges and let it cool a little before
serving.
Quick Smoothie Throw
half a banana or some berries in a blender along with some vanilla
yogurt and a splash of milk. Add a little ice if desired and blend
until smooth. Serve in a sippy cup or with a straw for a quick fruit
smoothie. Your toddler will love drinking a milkshake for a snack.
Give these fast,
easy and healthy snack ideas for your toddler a try. By the way,
these make great snacks for everyone else in the family as well –
including mom.