Easy Toddler Snack Ideas: Grab & Go, Recipes, and More
Toddler snacks are tricky for many reasons, but I’m here to help simplify the way you serve snacks to your toddler or kid. Why are they tricky?
- Toddlers and kids can sometimes (okay, frequently) be picky or selective eaters. They often want snacks that we deem not-so-healthy, like crunchy salty crackers, chips, sugary fruit snacks, etc.
- They might want snacks right before or after a main meal of the day. Some parents don’t want to serve snacks at certain times for fear that they will spoil their kids appetites or further encourage picky eating (in the case of a child not eating a meal and wanting to snack after).
- Healthy snacks are harder to prep! Washing, cutting, slicing, and spreading is more work and causes more dishes than grabbing a bag or crackers out of the pantry.
Am I going to solve every parents’ struggles with snacks? No, that would be impossible. But, I’m here to help. This blog post contains some of my favorite snack recipes, best snack tips, store bought snack pairings, and grab & go snacks for busy days. Bookmark this page for when you need new snack ideas!
1. Grab & Go Refrigerated Snack Ideas
Here’s the list of snack ideas from the video:
1. matchstick apples tossed in cinnamon, whole wheat bread peanut butter roll ups
2. sliced cucumbers, plain whole milk Greek yogurt with garlic powder, onion powder, and dried dill (dip for cucumbers, halved mandarin oranges
3. blueberry, strawberry, and raspberry fruit salad, Colby jack cheese cubes
4. less sugar strawberry yogurt, dye free sprinkles, sliced strawberries
5. cheddar snack cheese, whole wheat crackers
2. sliced grapes, raspberries, Colby Jack
7. toddler trail mix – freeze dried raspberries, Cheerios, Chex cereal
Here’s the link to the snack containers in the video!
Why are these great snacks for toddlers? Each snack box is easy to prep, doesn’t require any cooking, and contains protein and nutrients. Protein will help little one feel full, and of course, we want to increase the amount of fruits and veggies our kids eat daily.
I love to prep these boxes on Sundays to keep in the fridge. They help get me through the hardest part of the week, which, for me, is Monday-Wednesday!
2. Two Ingredient Snack Recipe
Does every toddler love cheese crackers or does every toddler love cheese crackers? Our favorite cheese crackers are both easy and convenient, and aren’t the worst choice at the grocery store. But, can we make them healthier? Yes!
Here the best part about this recipe: It only uses 2 ingredients. Yep, that’s it. Just almond flour and cheddar cheese! The almond flour and cheese both contain protein, and there are tons of other benefits to making these homemade crackers over serving store bought. Almond flour contains Vitamin E, antioxidants, fiber, and magnesium! See the recipe below.
Here is the recipe for the cheese cracker:
Ingredients:
• 1 cup blanched almond flour
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 tablespoons water
*optional: 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a food processor, combine the almond flour, shredded cheddar cheese, and water. Optionally, add 1/8 teaspoon salt. Blend until well combined.
3. Squish together to form a dough. Place the dough on a sheet of parchment paper.
4. Roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness using a rolling pin. It may be easier to place a sheet on top of the dough and roll it out between two sheets of parchment paper.
5. Use a pizza cutter or knife to cut the dough into cracker-sized pieces.
6. Use a toothpick or the end of a utensil to poke a hole in the center of each cracker.
7. Carefully transfer the parchment paper with the crackers onto the baking sheet, making sure to separate them so they don’t touch. Optionally, sprinkle a little salt on top of the crackers.
8. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-13 minutes, or until the crackers are crispy.
3. Store Bought Packaged Snack Pairings
Ideally, everything we serve to our kids would be healthy and homemade. But our lives are busy, and snacks sometimes need to be quick, easy, and not need any prep. Why do so many parents, including myself, turn to packaged or store bought snacks? Because they are convenient and easy!
So, I put together some snack ideas that you can save for your next grocery shopping trip. Each pairings is meant to give your child nutrients, help them feel full, have minimal processing, and don’t contain a lot of added sugar, dyes, or unwanted ingredients.
The snack pairings:
1. Freeze dried strawberry slices and @tillamook Colby Jack
2. @stonyfield organic yogurt and and @happyfamilyorganics Happy Tot spinach fiber and protein oat bar
3. @freshbellies freeze dried peppers and unsweetened applesauce.
4. @gogosqueez applesauce and @tillamook cheddar
5. Peach fruit cup and string cheese
6. @chobani less sugar yogurt with a fruit pouch (@plumorganics prunes)
7. @cheerios , @chexcereal , and freeze dried raspberries
Grab the link to the spoons I used in the video in the image below:
And one things to remember – please feel no guilt about which snacks or food you choose to serve your child. We are all coming from different busy schedules, different homes, different lives, and difference circumstances. What you feel is best, is best!
4. Healthy Frozen Snack Recipe
This is one of my most popular recipes that I’ve ever posted! This recipe is for peanut butter yogurt bark, and is a huge hit with both of my kids. Greek yogurt and peanut butter both contain lots of protein and nutrients, so your little one will feel full after eating this healthy snack.
Its super simple to make! Here are the ingredients you’ll need:
- Flavored Greek yogurt, or plain whole milk Greek yogurt & honey (honey only for 12m+)
- Peanut butter, nut butter, or allergy free seed butter
- Toppings: These are totally up to you! Have fun with them. Ideas below.
- Cheerios
- Finely chopped or smashed frozen fruit
- Honey or maple syrup drizzle
- Sprinkles
- Chocolate chips
- Nuts (4y+)
Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 individual cups of flavored Greek yogurt (about 1 1/3 cups)
- 1-2 spoonfuls of peanut butter or nut butter
- Toppings: Cheerios, sprinkles, fruit, chocolate chips, coconut, honey, or any desired toppings
Instructions:
- In a bowl, combine the flavored Greek yogurt with the peanut butter or nut butter until well mixed.
- Spread the mixture evenly onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Sprinkle desired toppings over the yogurt mixture. Press toppings down gently so they stick.
- Place the baking sheet in the freezer for at least 2 hours or until the mixture is frozen solid.
- Once frozen, break the mixture into pieces and enjoy!
5. Other Snack Recipes:
Here are some of my other favorite snack recipes. See the blog post links below, as well as Instagram posts!
Greek Yogurt & Fruit Popsicles
Healthy enough to serve for breakfast!
Whole Wheat Pizza Muffins
This one would make a great snack, lunch, or dinner side dish!
Healthy Chocolate Ice Cream
Made with banana and avocados, and no added sugar!
Oat Energy Balls
I made this recipe around Easter, so I called them “bunny bites.” But, there’s really nothing Easter-y about them! Enjoy these energy balls year round.
What else makes a great snack? Any real food! Save untouched leftovers from your child’s plate, and put them away for snack time. Sometimes, it just takes another exposure to eat the food. This results in less food waste, and no prepping for snack time!
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