HEALTHY SNACKS FOR BABIES.........

Older babies and toddlers eat smaller, more frequent meals. By nature, they are constantly on the go and need to refuel frequently. Providing several snacks a day helps sneak in healthy foods into the diet of young children. Avoid packaged snacks full of preservatives and unhealthy additives. Wholesome snacks that are quick in preparation are the best option for a busy family. Always check with the child's doctor before introducing new foods.

Instructions

1. • 1
     Supply fresh fruit. Young children enjoy the natural sweetness of fresh fruit. Bananas are a favorite fruit that is readily available all seasons. Serve the bananas sliced and covered in peanut butter. To make a frozen banana, peel the fruit and place a popsicle stick in one end. Wrap in plastic wrap and place in the freezer. Teething babies and toddlers enjoy the frozen bananas. Additional ways for babies and toddlers to snack on fruit is to cut up their favorite fruits and make a fruit salad. Be sure to slice any grapes before serving them to young children. Kids love to dip their food. Use yogurt as a dip for the fruit. Also, make frozen fruit juice pops by pouring 100% juice into popsicle molds before freezing.
   • 2
     Include dairy products as healthy snacks for babies and toddlers. After slicing a block of cheese, cut into shapes with a small cookie cutter. Purchase string cheese for quick handling. Make fruit and yogurt smoothies in a blender. Cottage cheese mixed with fruit, like peaches, also provides a snack including the dairy and fruit food groups.
   • 3
     Add carbohydrates and fiber in a toddler or baby diet with whole grains and bread. Whole grain crackers, graham crackers and fortified cereals are options to include as a healthy snack. Mix up a toddler version of trail mix to carry on the go. The trail mix can contain items such as toasted oat cereal, pretzels and small graham cracker pieces.
   • 4
     Encourage vegetables. Some babies and toddlers try to stay away from eating healthy vegetables. Slightly cooking, or blanching, a vegetable makes the texture easier for toddlers and babies to handle. Carrots, squash and broccoli all are softer and easier to eat for young children after cooking slightly. Shell and bake edamame for a crunchy snack. Serve carrots with a bit of ranch dressing and celery with peanut butter for an enjoyable snack.
   • 5
     Spread peanut butter on toast or a bagel to offer protein in a simple snack. Avoid nuts or chunky peanut butter since they pose a choking hazard. Ham and turkey rolls help add protein to a toddler's diet. Dice leftover chicken and serve with a dipping sauce. Beans, served smashed on a tortilla roll, offer a toddler another healthy snack option

 

 Breakfast Cereal

Many varieties of breakfast cereal come in pieces that are small enough for your baby as he learns to feed himself and adjust to eating solid foods. Choose a dry cereal that lists whole grains as one of the first ingredients, which will provide a good amount of fiber to your baby. Select one that is also low in sugar. Many cereals are fortified with nutrients, such as iron and vitamin D, in which many babies are deficient, and these make healthy snacks as well.

Cottage Cheese with Fruit

Your baby needs plenty of calcium for strong bones and protein for healthy muscles, and cottage cheese is a nutritious snack that provides both of these important nutrients. Offer your baby a large curd variety so he is able to pick it up more easily and feed it to himself, suggests KidsHealth. Small chunks of fruit can be added to cottage cheese to increase your baby's intake of vitamins and minerals such as potassium and vitamin C. Ripe bananas and finely chopped berries or melon are all healthy choices.

Whole-Wheat Bread

Serving your baby whole-wheat bread for a snack will increase her intake of B vitamins, iron and fiber. If your baby likes the taste, offer her a plain piece of bread that you have broken into tiny pieces. Toast the bread and add a small amount of butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon before breaking it into pieces as another taste your little one may enjoy. Whole-wheat bagels or English muffins are additional options that provide similar nutrients to your baby.