Make creative toddler snacks that keep his imagination soaring and his body healthy. Healthy snacks can be assembled at home, with ingredients you already have on hand. Combine foods in interesting ways and build snacks into familiar shapes or activities, including a picnic. Toddlers can eat 1,000 to 1,400 calories per day, according to the Nemours Foundation. Making the snacks both healthy and playful will help toddlers get the nutrition they need, and have fun while eating them.
Caterpillar Roll-Ups With Meat
Cut a length of cheese from a block. Roll the cheese in a thin slice of deli meat, preferably turkey, chicken breast or low-sodium ham. Place bite-sized pieces of mixed field greens on the plate. Add a pretzel stick. Cut the rolled-up meat and cheese into bite-sized pieces and reassemble the caterpillar on the plate. Break off tiny pieces of pretzel to make the eyes and add two small antennas to the head.
Savory Palm Trees
Cut up homemade meatballs, hot dogs or toddler meat sticks to use as the base of the tree. Stick long pretzel rods or plain bread sticks into the meat. Poke holes in slices of whole wheat pita bread using a straw. Use a knife to poke holes in fresh pea pods. Layer the slices of bread with the pea pods to make the palm tree fronds.
Ice Cube Tray Picnic
Use a dry ice cube tray to make a Bento box style snack tray. Cut up fresh fruits including apples, bananas or strawberries and fill every other space. Add puffed rice or small crackers to a couple of spaces. Put cubes of cheese in a couple more. Save two spaces for the dip, made of one part unsweetened applesauce, one part plain yogurt and a sprinkling of cinnamon.
Veggie Forest
Poke holes in a paper plate and turn it upside down. Smear hummus or sesame butter on the plate, going around the holes. Plant trees, including fresh string beans and blanched asparagus, by poking the vegetables through the holes. Add celery and carrot sticks to the forest floor to look like fallen tree logs. Include fresh sprouts or lettuce to make small bushes. Make a path through the forest with a row of whole wheat crackers.
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