OK, crafty mommas! I need some good ideas for fun, nutritious snacks for toddlers. I bet you have some good ones Jana! And you, too, Leigh, my gourmet friend. This is one I have found to be a hit lately:
"Field Mouse Snack"
Combine mixed nuts (almonds, cashews, hazelnuts and pecans) with raisins and small cubes of cheddar cheese. Best served with fresh, cold water to small, fuzzy-headed boys.
Josiah has been extremely interested in little creatures and critters lately, so I think the name of this snack sold him on it :)
Oh, what a great idea. I'll have to wait on that one until Jack has more teeth and actually chews his food, though! Here's another snack idea--guacamole. Jack loves it, and it's pretty healthy. I just use mashed avocados, chopped tomatoes and red onion, lemon and lime juice, and a splash of red wine vinegar. He eats it with a spoon, but older kids could use corn chips, crackers, or veggies.
ReplyDeleteYum! My little boy (6) was always weird about nuts even though we tried to introduce them in different ways. Turns out he's highly allergic to them!
ReplyDeleteOne idea I used every once in a while was giving little finger foods (raisins, diced cheese, little cubes of tofu, cubed banana, etc.) in the little compartments of an ice cube tray. Something about the neat little squares really appealed to my kids, and it was a fun novelty.
I also did a lot of baking of mini muffins and quick breads in those days and froze lots of them so that they were ready for quick snacks. My kids always loved little squares of pumpkin bread, etc. In all my baking recipes I always substitue whole-wheat PASTRY flour for half of the white flour, and use 30-40% less sugar than called for. You never even notice the difference with the flour (the pastry flour keeps things rising nicely and imparts a lovely golden color).
Finally, my kids still love a graham cracker "iced" thinly with PB with a pile of raisins nearby to make a "face."
Also--banana "sandwiches" (banana slices glued together with just a smidge of peanut butter) on a plate were a highly coveted snack in those days. Sometimes I'd roll them in wheat germ to make them look "fancy."