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Healthy — and Easy! — Snacks For Toddlers That Don't Have Added Sugar

16/06/2018 - 05:15 PM

Worried that their toddlers were consuming too much added sugar [1], mainly from snacks, Reddit user WinTheFaceoff sought some help from other parents to compile a list of healthy snacks for young kids. They said: "They don't eat any one terrible thing, but it's just a continuous amount of snacks with low to moderate amounts of sugar and worthless carbs. Graham crackers, chocolate milk, Capri sun, brown sugar oatmeal, granola bars, stuff that doesn't sound so bad, but when you total up the sugars, it's excessive in my opinion."

Sound familiar? Yeah, to us, too. Luckily for this parent, the Reddit community delivered, and many parents had great tips for getting kids to want to eat healthier snacks, plus a few easy ideas.

"Just toss all of the junk — if it's not in the house, they're not going to eat it. It's a very bandaid-pull way of changing habits," one user suggested. "My [2-year-old] daughter knows we don't keep cookies/cake/etc. in the house unless it is a 'special occasion.' Sometimes she'll ask for a doughnut, for example, and we just remind her that we don't have those in the house, but next time it's a 'special day' we might have one. Side note: this also helps my husband and I by not having junk in the house — keeps the whole family healthy!"

Worried about your toddler getting hangry for unhealthy things? Another user's got you covered: "Don't get discouraged if your child whines for the old stuff and doesn't want to eat the new healthy treats at first. Toddlers and young children really love to eat the same few things over and over and my child is horrifically hard to introduce new foods to. For me, I end up repeating myself a lot." When their daughter asks for something like cookies, they simply redirect and give a few options for healthy things — within a few minutes, they typically find their toddler munching on one of those choices.

If you're looking to slip healthier snacks into your toddler's diet, scroll through to see some of the quick and easy ideas that were recommended — and head to the grocery store to stock up!

Bananas

Bananas are more on the filling side, so slice one up for the perfect satisfying snack for a hungry tot.

Hummus

Hummus is the perfect dip for everything — carrots, celery, cucumbers — or can be spread on crackers.

Yoghurt

Yoghurt is a great snack, but don't be fooled by yoghurt marketed toward kids or fruit-on-the-bottom cups — they all have tons of added sugar. Go for plain Greek yoghurt and mix in some fruit or cinnamon.

Bell Peppers

Slice up a sweet bell pepper and serve it with some hummus, with yoghurt dip, or even plain.

Kiwis

Slices of kiwi will satisfy a toddler's itch for a sweet snack.

Apples

Slice up an apple and sprinkle with a bit of cinnamon for extra flavour — or serve it plain, with yoghurt dip [3], or with a bit of nut butter.

Avocados

Slice up half an avocado as a snack, or smush some onto a piece of toast as a heartier afternoon snack.

Watermelon

Slices of watermelon are the perfect sweet snack — you can even freeze the slices on popsicle sticks as a cold treat.

Carrots

Berries

Whether fresh or frozen, a handful of berries is always a treat.

Tomatoes

Slice up a tomato for eating plain or dipping in hummus.

Fruit Popsicles

If you have a popsicle mold at home, fresh fruit and a bit of water are all you need to make popsicles [5] that seem like a treat but are actually healthy!

Smoothies

If you have a blender, you can whip up fruit smoothies for your kids in no time. You can go straight fruit (fresh or frozen) and water, or add a bit of milk or Greek yoghurt to thicken it up.

Green Beans

Raw green beans are a crunchy and satisfying snack — if your kiddo isn't exactly into greens, try serving them with a dip they like to get them on board.

Grapes

Grapes are a great pop-in-your-mouth snack, but make sure you've cut them the right way [6] before serving them so your little one won't choke!

Pickles

Pickles are a great simple snack for kids. You could even make your own as a family, which would be a fun activity with a delicious ending.

Cucumbers

Slices of cucumber may seem like a bland snack, but serve a bowl of cukes in front of your little one, and we promise they'll disappear faster than you think.

Hard-Boiled Eggs

With or without the yolks, hard-boiled eggs are a substantial snack for hungry little ones whose tastes lean savory.

Raisins

Cheese

String cheeses or small, snack-size cheese bites are an easy savory snack.

Clementines

Grab a bag of the seedless, easy-peel ones that your toddler can unwrap themselves.

Rice Cakes

Serve up a plain rice cake for a crunchy snack, or easily make it a small meal by swiping some peanut butter across the top and adding a dollop of plain yoghurt.


Source URL
https://www.popsugar.co.uk/parenting/Healthy-Snack-Ideas-Toddlers-44950779