Simple and Tasty Snack Ideas for Toddlers



fruit snacks

Healthy Toddler snack recipes and Snack Ideas
for your Toddler



Did you know that snacks are an important part of your Toddler’s nutrition?

These Toddler snack ideas are healthy and nutritious and will help your fuel Toddler during the day and in between meals!  Don’t rely on pre-packaged Toddler snacks full of additives and artificial ingredients! Feel free to substitute any ingredients you feel may be inappropriate for your Toddler!



FRUIT SALAD – Fruity Snacky Yum!

Dice Apples, Peaches, Bananas and Grapes (halve or quarter grapes as needed)
Arrange fruits on a plate around a small bowl of plain, spiced or flavoured yogurt for dipping.

May be made into a parfait by layering fruits, then yogurt then fruits then yogurt in a small clear glass or bowl. Top with wheat germ or granola.



STUFFED APPLES

1 large or medium apple – cored but not peeled
Stuff apple with peanut butter, raisins, wheat germ and drizzle with honey, top with coconut or crushed granola
Dig in with a spoon or have fun trying to eat with your hands!
You may wish to microwave the empty cored apple for a few seconds to allow it to soften a bit.

This snack will travel well in a lunchbox or to a play date – the “stuffing” will help retard browning of the apple.



APPLE TOPPED WITH BLUEBERRIES AND MUESLI

Ingredients
2 large apples, peeled and remove seeds – cut into wedges
1 cup frozen blueberries
3/4cup mixed fruit muesli (crush if needed for older babies)
2 tablespoons maple syrup
50g butter, melted
vanilla yogurt to serve (optional) vanilla ice cream or frozen vanilla yogurt if you want to indulge your toddler

Preheat oven to 375F. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Lay apple wedges on baking tray and top with raspberries. Sprinkle muesli over, then drizzle with maple syrup and butter. Bake for 15 minutes, or until tops are golden and fruit tender. Serve apple warm with vanilla yogurt.



ANTS ON A LOG – An Old Favorite

Celery sticks filled with either
peanut butter, cream cheese or hummus
and topped with raisins, apple dices, seeds, nuts, banana dices etc..

These are great snacks for Toddlers! Many toddlers will just eat the “filling” and the raisins, which is just fine! Ensure what you add is appropriate for your Toddler

APPLESAUCE GRAHAM CRACKERS

Graham Crackers
Natural Applesauce
Cinnamon
Raisins
Wheat Germ

Mix cinnamon, wheat germ and raisins into the applesauce. Spread over the graham crackers. Use any type of fruit purée you wish!
Using low salt saltines, low-salt Ritz, pita bread slices, or plain rice cakes as your cracker base is just as good!!

YOGURT CEREAL BARS

2 cups corn flakes – 3/4 flour – 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon – 1/2cup butter or margarine
1 cup flavoured yogurt (banana/strawberry etc..) – 1 egg slightly beaten
2 tablespoons flour
Preheat oven to 350F

Combine cereal, 3/4 cup flour, sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
Cut in butter or margarine until coarse crumbs form.
Press 1/2 the mixture firmly into the bottom of a greased 8inch square pan.
Mix yogurt, egg and 2 tablespoons flour in another small bowl.
Spread over cereal mixture in pan and then sprinkle the remaining cereal mixture on top
Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown; cut into bars when cooled.
Courtesy of Stonyfield Farms Yogurt

ENERGY BALLS

1/4 cup finely grated carrots
1/4 cup rolled oats or Granola*
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1 Tablespoon honey
3 Tablespoons peanut butter

Mix and roll into balls. Easy carrots in the tummy!
*Granola makes these Energy Balls more tasty and adds a nice crunch!

TODDLER TRAIL MIX**

granola
peanuts
raisins
dried fruits
cereal rings (Oatie Os, Cheerios, Gorilla Munch, Barbara’s Puffins etc. )
carob or yogurt chips
roasted soy “nuts”
**  Mix only those food items that you find appropriate for your Toddler**

HOMEMADE FRUIT JIGGLERS

2 cups fruit juice of your choice (100% Natural Fruit Juice Only!)
3 tsp powdered gelatin
1/4 cup small cubed fruit of your choice

Place 1/4 cup of the juice in a cup; sprinkle gelatin over juice.
Stand cup in a small pan of simmering water, stir until gelatin is dissolved.
Stir gelatin mixture and fruits into remaining juice in a medium bowl or square/rectangular pan.
Refrigerate until firm.

Scoop into a cup or cut into shapes to serve. Let your Toddler help with the cutting of the shapes!
Break out the cookie cutters and make this a Toddler activity!

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DIPPIN SAUCES

Peanutty Yogurt Dip (consult your pediatrician about peanut butter!)

1 part plain or vanilla yogurt (1/4 cup)
1/2 part peanut butter (4 tablespoons)
honey to drizzle on top

Blueberry Yogurt Dip

1 part plain or vanilla yogurt (1/4 cup)
1/2 part blueberry puree or 100% natural blueberry preserves (4 tablespoons)
honey to drizzle on top

Honey of a Hummus

1 can drained chick peas (garbanzo beans)
1 cup tahini (add more or less until you get the desired consistency)
1/4 cup honey

In a blender or food process or add chick peas, honey and tahini; blend until you get the desired consistency

Appley-Yogurt Dip

1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup Natural applesauce

Mix yogurt and applesauce and dip in your favorite fruits – some Toddlers even love this for dipping veggies!

CROCK-POT BREAD PUDDING (2 toddler thumbs up from us!!)

4 cups French bread cubes, toasted – 2 1/2 cups milk, scalded, cooled slightly
2 eggs, beaten – 3/4 cup sugar – 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon – dash nutmeg
dash salt – 1 teaspoon vanilla extract – 2 tablespoons melted butter
1/2 cup raisins, optional (chopped apples are great too!)
dessert sauce or whipped cream for garnish

Prep:
Lightly butter the slow cooker then add bread cubes. In a small bowl, whisk together the scalded milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, vanilla, and melted butter. Pour milk mixture over the bread cubes then add raisins, if desired. Gently, using a large spoon or spatula, press bread cubes down into mixture so all bread pieces will soak up milk mixture. Do not stir. Cover and cook on LOW setting for 5 to 6 hours, until bread pudding is set. Serve – with Frozen Vanilla Yogurt!

QUICK -N- EASY SMOOTHIE

1 cup 100% nothing added fruit juice
1 cup plain, vanilla or fruited yogurt (not with fruit on the bottom!)

Place yogurt and juice in lidded container/cup and shake until mixed well
Pour into Toddler’s cup

FROZEN BAN-OLA

1 medium sized banana – peeled
1/2 cup crushed granola
plain or vanilla yogurt (blueberry yogurt is yummy too!)

Dip banana in your choice of yogurt
Roll banana in crushed granola
Place in freezer bag and freeze. May be eaten without being frozen also

Peanuts and Tree Nuts have varied age recommendations for introduction. Typical ages for introduction are:

  • After One (1) Year for the Non Food Sensitive/Non-Allergic Child;

  • After Two (2) or Three (3) Years for the Food Sensitive/Allergic Child.

Some Medical Authorities even suggest holding off Peanuts and Tree Nuts until after Seven (7) Years old!  You should introduce these items with the consultation and recommendation of your baby’s Pediatrician!

Please note:  It is important that you ensure your Toddler is sitting upright when eating any and all foods.  Do not let your Toddler run around while eating any food!  Pay close attention to size of the foods that you offer your Toddler and be cautious of any foods you feel might pose a choking hazard for your Toddler.  For example, there are some Toddlers that may be able to eat grapes cut into pieces while other Toddlers might not.  Only you know your Toddler and his/her abilities to handle different foods of differing sizes and proportions!