Hangry Toddler? Try These Healthy Snacks for Toddlers
Here’s the best list of fresh and healthy snacks for toddlers, big kids at home, on the go, and at daycare and preschool. These healthy toddler snacks are sure to keep your hangry toddler nourished and happy.
What makes a toddler snack healthy and more tips for parents:
Viewing snacks as nourishment
We’ve all been that parent who whips out a surprise fruit strip to quiet your child at the store, because we know it will work! But the purpose of a healthy snack is to tide one over until the next meantime in terms of nourishment and energy, not to soothe a hangry toddler. Sharyn Saftler, dietitian and owner of a family nutrition health coaching practice explains, “Healthy snacks are important for kids in the same way that they are important for adults: any time you eat, it’s an opportunity to provide your body with the basic building blocks it needs to thrive.”
Looking out for marketing terms like “organic” or “natural”
As busy people, we are particularly susceptible to marketing. For example, give me organic applesauce or all-natural baked cheese-puffs, and my little brain immediately thinks: “Healthy! Exactly what I’m looking for! All signs point to go!” But according to Dr. Reshma Shah, a California-based pediatrician, that’s exactly when you should think twice — because foods that have to advertise supposed healthfulness are usually the ones that aren’t actually good for you or your little ones.
Try looking for foods that are real, whole, and unprocessed — if packaged, look for a short ingredient list of things you can actually recognize.
Smart snack positioning for your growing toddler
Learn the value of making snacking convenient for them. Try putting healthy snacks at eye-level in the pantry door that your child can open, prepping low-fat mozzarella balls in a bowl, or putting together little baggies of fruit. It’s like grab-and-go, but kid-style and healthy because you get to control what the ingredients are vs something store bought. This way you actually end up doing less work because your child knows what to expect with snacks!
Healthy Snacks for Toddlers Ideas
High Protein Snacks for Toddlers
- Greek Yogurt
- Peanut Butter With Apples or On Toast
- Hummus
- Bean Dip
- Boiled Eggs
- Egg Salad
- Tuna Salad
- Tofu
- Sliced or Cubed Turkey/Ham/Chicken
- Meatballs
- Turkey and Avocado Roll Up
- Cubes of Sandwich
Veggie Snacks for Toddlers
- Edamame
- Avocado Toast
- Pita Pocket With Veggies
- Bell Peppers and Guacamole
- Snap peas
- Cucumbers, sliced or diced
- Cherry tomatoes, halved
- Shredded carrots or carrot slices/sticks (for older toddlers and kids)
- Thawed frozen peas
- Thawed frozen corn
Fresh Fruit Snacks for Toddlers
- Smoothies
- Sliced Pears With Ricotta Cheese
- Apple Sauce
- Orange Slices
- Peach Slices
- Bananas
- Berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries)
- Grapes, sliced in half vertically
- Kiwi
- Melon
- Mango
On-The-Go Healthy Snacks for Toddlers
- Pretzels
- Carrot Sticks
- Fruit Leather
- Oatmeal
- Muffins
- Cheese Stick
- Apple chips (homemade or Bare Snacks)
- Dried fruit (mango, apricots, cranberries, cherries)
- Cereal (low sugar): Cheerios, Kix, Chex
- Veggie Straws
- Mini Rice Cakes
Healthy Snacks for Toddlers Summarized
As most parents know, it can be hard to keep up with your toddler’s eating habits. Hopefully, this all inclusive list of healthy toddler snacks will help you keep your toddler nourished and happy. For healthy toddler and kids meal ideas ranging from breakfast to lunch to dinner try our Easy Dinner Ideas for Kids, Healthy and Quick Breakfast Ideas, or Healthy Meals for Kids, which is our all encompassing list of meals and recipes.
If you’d like a hand creating balanced yet easy toddler meal ideas, Nurture Life is here to help! Our ready-to-eat toddler meals have been thoughtfully crafted to satisfy your little one’s taste buds and dietary needs. Take a week off from the kitchen and provide some relief to your hectic schedule by ordering a full week of lunches, or intersperse our dishes with your own homemade meals for well-balanced nutrition without the meal-prep stress.
