1.11: Nutritious Snack Ideas
- Page ID
- 40932
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Nutritious Snack Ideas for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers
For Infants (6-12 months):
Ensure snacks are soft, small, and easy to swallow. Introduce one new food at a time to monitor for potential allergies.
- Fruits: Mashed bananas, applesauce (unsweetened), pureed peaches, or pears
- Vegetables: Mashed sweet potatoes, soft-cooked carrots, mashed peas
- Dairy: Plain yogurt (unsweetened), soft scrambled eggs
- Grains: Oatmeal, baby rice cereal
- Protein: Avocado slices, pureed beans, tofu cubes
Allergy Substitutions:
- For dairy allergies: Use coconut or almond yogurt.
- For egg allergies: Replace scrambled eggs with mashed avocado.
- For gluten sensitivity: Use gluten-free baby cereals or pureed quinoa.
For Toddlers (1-3 years):
Offer finger foods that are easy to chew and bite-sized.
- Fruits: Sliced strawberries, thin apple slices (steamed), melon cubes, seedless grapes (cut in half)
- Vegetables: Soft-cooked broccoli, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes (cut in quarters)
- Dairy: Cottage cheese with fruit, cheese sticks
- Grains: Whole grain crackers, toast with avocado, mini whole grain pancakes (no syrup)
- Protein: Hummus with soft pita bread, yogurt with fruit, scrambled eggs
Allergy Substitutions:
- For dairy allergies: Use dairy-free cheese or yogurt.
- For nut allergies: Use sunflower seed butter instead of peanut or almond butter.
- For gluten sensitivity: Offer gluten-free crackers or rice cakes.
For Preschoolers (3-5 years):
Encourage variety and let children help prepare snacks to engage them.
- Fruits: Fruit kabobs (grapes, melon, berries), apple slices with nut butter
- Vegetables: Veggie sticks with hummus (carrot, cucumber, bell peppers)
- Dairy: Cheese cubes or sticks with whole grain crackers
- Grains: Whole grain pretzels with nut butter, mini sandwiches (whole grain bread, turkey, and cheese)
- Protein: Hard-boiled eggs, yogurt with granola, trail mix (nut-free if necessary)
Allergy Substitutions:
- For dairy allergies: Use dairy-free yogurt, hummus, or vegan cheese sticks.
- For nut allergies: Replace nut butter with sunflower or soy butter, and offer seed-based trail mix.
- For egg allergies: Offer a chickpea or lentil salad as a high-protein alternative.
Additional Allergy-Friendly Snack Ideas:
- Rice cakes with mashed banana or hummus
- Dairy-free smoothies (made with oat milk or almond milk)
- Popcorn (for older children) seasoned with nutritional yeast
- Frozen fruit popsicles (homemade, no added sugar)
- Veggie chips (baked kale, zucchini, or sweet potato chips)
Important Note:
This list is a guide intended to help parents and caregivers offer nutritious snack options for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Always consult with your child’s healthcare provider before introducing new foods. Please be sure to read food labels carefully, especially if there are any food allergies in your child’s class or childcare setting. Cross-contamination can occur in packaged products.