You guys, I am in a total toddler funk when it comes to food ideas. Usually I’m in a funk when it comes to what to cook for the adults! I’m sure BG couldn’t care less about having a cornucopia of snacks around the house, but it totally bugs me when I seem to be serving the same thing. Is that ridiculous? Please tell me I’m not the only one. For snacks, I usually like healthy, but every once in a while I’ll throw in a fun-not-so-nutritious snack. So sue me! There are days when my girl decides she doesn’t want to eat a lot at lunch or dinner, but I feel so much better when I can look at what she ate throughout the day and know that she at least got some good nutrients in from that chocolate chip cookie handful of nuts I gave her. I also think BG is a snacker like me. Why should I expect her to sit down to eat a big meal if I don’t even like doing that? Keeping snacks in my daughter means that the she is happier and less likely to have freak outs. When my own blood sugar gets low I am a total crank pot. Keeping the kiddo fed and happy also means that I am a nicer mama. Sounds like a win win, so bring on the food! Nom nom.
Our toddlers feeding schedule is 8am breakfast, 10:30am snack, 12/12:30pm lunch, 3:30pm snack and 5/5:30pm is dinner time. BG is not picky, but we’ve definitely gone through bad phases where I can’t seem to get anything in her. I now have some tricks up my sleeves though! For instance, sometimes I call lunchtime “snack time.” If it gets her to eat, I don’t care if it’s called play time, lunchtime, nap time, whatever time! Â I don’t want to be a short order cook, but at dinner time I usually serve her something I know she will eat (hopefully what we are eating), a little of what DH and I are eating or something new, and something she normally refuses. They say toddlers sometimes need to see a food 10 times before they’ll feel comfortable enough to eat it, so I like to offer new foods a few days in a row. Â I try to include a protein, a dairy and a veggie on her plate. Another tip I’ve learned along the way is to not get upset when BG wants to play with her food. If she is eating and wants to use her hands to eat, do it. She’s 2. I had to let go of control in this department. We also like to serve her meals in Bento boxes. I have tried many and read tons of reviews on different Bento boxes. The Easy Lunch boxes are big and don’t contain a bunch of random little parts. I just saw that she now has little dipper containers too! Totally buying these! I usually use a mini silicone cupcake holder, but these will be so much better. Woohoo!Â
Before I get to my list, have you ever searched www.weelicious.com? They have TONS of recipes. Two recipes that my daughter loves are zucchini coins and carrot snack sticks.
Don’t they look good? I have to admit, they really do taste as good as they look.
So, EASY toddler snacks. Here is a list I made. I now keep it on my fridge and use it as a reference for when I am feeling like we’re in a snack rut. #firstworldproblems
- Ants on a log – a classic. Celery, peanut butter and raisins.
- Mini bagels with peanut butter, jam or cream cheese
- Variety of fruits, veggies and a cheese
- Apple and peanut butter or cheese cubes
- Bananas and peanut butter
- Kiwi and cheese slices
- PB wrapped with tortilla and warmed up for about 10 seconds.
- Cheese and broccoli
- Cucumbers and yogurt to dip
- Granola Bars – DD likes Quaker Oat Yogurt Bars. We also buy Trader Joe’s Bars. “The Bluerberry Walks into a Bar….” Is a fave.
- Veggie Straws
- Root Chips from Trader Joe’s
- Graham Crackers plain or with PB or nutella
- Banana dipped in greek yogurt, roll it in crushed cereal and freeze for frozen snack
- Cottage cheese and fruit
- A monster smoothie – bananas, strawberries, blueberries, greek yogurt, little milk, wheat germ and handful of spinach.
- Apple or Pear Sauce
- Pita bread with PB, Hummus, mild salsa or Bean Dip
- Veggies and Hummus. DD loves the crinkle cut carrots because they’re easier to eat with.
- Whole Grain English Muffin with PB or Coconut Oil
- Avocado Chunks
- Ham & Cheese cubes. DD loves eating these with these fun toothpicks.
- Fig Newtons
- Popcorn, pretzels or rice cakes
- Trailmix – cashews, almonds, raisins and cranberries
- Hardboiled egg
- Greek yogurt with honey or berries mixed in
- Sammy Jammies
- Deli meat with a slice of cheese rolled up
- Plain old grapes- Love because they are easy, portable and don’t make crumbs in the car!
- PB or cheese sandwich cracker packs
- Eat a rainbow- different colored fruits and veggies arranged in rows like a rainbow
- fishing- celery sticks w PB on ends and a bowl of goldfish
Here are a few bigger snacks/meals –
- Rice and beans
- Quesadilla
- Mac n Cheese with tuna and peas
- Grilled cheese
- PB and Jelly Panini
- Pizza English Muffin – sauce, cheese and bake.
- Cream Cheese spread on a waffle
- Cheesy Roll up- tortilla sprinkled with cheese and a slice of deli meat. Microwave and roll up
- Pizza Roll Up- same except with pepperoni
Hopefully this list will help you out when you’re trying to pick snacks out for your little one OR YOURSELF! It doesn’t always have to be gold fish or a plain old apple. Mix it up!
Since you read through the whole thing  I will reward you with a freebie. 🙂
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