Do you ever have those days where you plan a last minute outing with your family, only to get stumped by what you should take for your toddler as a snack? Well, I certainly have!
Toddlers love snacks. My son is at the age now where he needs to snack every couple of hours, if not more often. Snacks have also been very helpful when we go out; they keep my son distracted while I’m getting my errands done – which is a win-win for the both of us! I get my tasks done while he enjoys a little treat.
Through the past few weeks, it has been important for me to find the most nutritious snacks available that are made with real ingredients.
There are a large variety of snacks for toddlers on the market nowadays, but not many that pass the test for this mama. I am very cautious on what I feed my son and I examine the ingredient list of any prepackaged product thoroughly.
Generally, I prefer not buying any packaged food for my son – since I’d rather make most of his meals and snacks, which allows me to control what goes in them. But as my son has become older, I realized it’s not a bad idea to rely on prepackaged snacks from time to time. As long as they are healthy, nutritious, and made with the right ingredients – then it’s OK. Sometimes moms need a break too, am I right!?
Don’t get me wrong, I still attempt to make most of what he eats from scratch – and I’m proud of that – but I will resort to one of the options listed below if I need to.
These are snacks I’ve found I can grab and go when I’m in a hurry. They are all healthy, nutritious, and made with real ingredients.
Larabar Mini or Larabar KID
If you’re following me on my social media, then you know I’ve been raving about these for the past few weeks. I LOVE Larabar’s for myself and now, for my baby boy as well. They’re quick, healthy, and nutritious! They’re also made with very few ingredients that are REAL and easily readable. That’s always important for me when I’m looking for snacks for my family. They now make them in mini sizes too and they make kid versions as well! How awesome is that?! My son approves of these and all their delicious flavors.
RXBAR Kids
As you’ve probably noticed from my first snack item on this list – I pay very close attention to the ingredient list. I’m happy to say I’ve found another packaged snack for my toddler that does not disappoint! These RXBAR Kids are made of very few ingredients and as they claim on the front “no bad stuff” – score! Another snack bar that is quick, healthy, and nutritious. My son approves of this bar as well and loves its chewy texture. These will definitely be a staple in our home as he grows.
Read Also: 13 ways to ensure your child eats healthy
Nature’s All Food – Organic Freeze Dried Strawberries
My son loves fresh strawberries but sometimes they’re a hassle to take out since they tend to make a mess. They drip everywhere and stain his clothes red! These organic freeze-dried strawberries taste good, have the texture of a chip, and don’t make a mess at all. The ingredient list contains only ONE ingredient: strawberries! I’ve approved of these. They help distract my toddler when we’re out and he gets to enjoy the taste of his strawberries but in a crunchier version! They also have other freeze-dried fruit options, so check those out as well.
Store Bought Humus and Cucumbers
We’re Middle Eastern, so we obviously love our humus! But if you’ve ever prepared humus from scratch at home, then you know it takes time to make. Thankfully, I’ve been purchasing a store bought humus from Krogers that tastes very similar to the homemade one! It’s an easy dip that is nutritious and can be taken on the go to be given as a snack to a hungry toddler. Pair it with your toddler’s favorite vegetable and it makes a delicious and nutritious DUO. My sons favorite vegetable is cucumbers so we tend to take some sliced cucumbers placed in a Ziploc bag out along with this dip. Quick, easy, and healthy. What can be better than that?!
StoneyField Organic Smoothies
My son has been loving smoothie’s lately, so we’ve been purchasing these Stonyfield Organic Smoothie drinks for quick on the go rescue. If we’re going out on a short trip, we’ll bring one of these drinks with us to let my son sip on so he doesn’t get hungry. They are made of whole milk and come in a variety of different flavors.
This is a list of prepackaged foods you can grab and go. I will be creating a post soon on snacks that I prepare ahead of time at home, from scratch for times I have to run out as well. So keep a look out for that post!
Hope you found this post helpful.