Read my post on why I discourage biscuits for babies ? Well most of the queries I got after that post was the healthy substitutes for the unhealthy biscuits. So here in this post , I have given the 20 healthy on the go snacking options for toddlers and kids.
All the snack ideas given here have been written for toddlers who can hand pick their snacks . However you need to be careful so that they do not choke them by any means.
For 1o M + babies who have teeth , you can opt any of the snacks as per their age group and prepare it in a blended consistency or broken to small bite pieces / chewable pieces / mashed form. Please note no cows milk , honey or egg whites for babies less than 1 year old.
20 HEALTHY ON THE GO SNACKING OPTIONS FOR TODDLERS AND KIDS
1. APPLES
Apples, which are are rich in vitamins , minerals and dietery fibre, can be an ideal on the go snack for all age groups , but preferably for toddlers who can hand pick themselves. Cut apples into bite square pieces and let them savor the amazing fruit with all its flavor.
2. BAKED SWEET POTATO FRIES
Yes this is an awesome snack preferred by almost everyone. The best part is it is healthy too
Clean and peel sweet potatoes. Cut into finger fries pieces. Add 1tbsp oil , salt and pepper to the fingers . You can also add salt and pepper once its done.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Bake for 20-30 minutes.
3. CARROT FINGERS
Cut the washed and clean carrots into finger fries like pieces. Add oil , pepper and salt to a bowl and add carrots. Spread these in a baking tray and bake at 450F for 10-12 minutes. Crispy healthy carrot fingers are ready
4. CUCUMBERS
An awesome snack for summer season. Cut cucumber into thin pieces and let them enjoy . I always take it while traveling in train for my daughter Anshika.
Its always better to take the whole cucumber with you , peel and cut there and then when your little one is hungry.
5. VEGETABLE CUTLET
Vegetable cutlet is a wholesome snack for those toddlers who go fussy over vegetables.
In a pan, add butter and oil. Saute onions and then finely chopped carrots , green peas and beans . You can also add ginger garlic paste which is optional. Add salt , turmeric powder , pepper powder and garam masala. Add preboiled potato mash , and make it into small round pattice.
Dip the pattice in egg white and roll in breadcrumbs.
Heat 1.5-2 tbsp oil in a pan and shallow fry the cutlets.
This vegetable cutlets are wholesome , healthy and tastes much better after 1 or 2 days. You can also keep the mix in the fridge for 2-3 days so that make as and when required.
6. BROCCOLI STIR FRY
Broccoli stir fry is a hit with my daughter as a travel time snack. I pack it for my office too so that I can have it at 11 AM as my mid morning snack.
Destem broccoli . Blanch them in boiling water with turmeric. Take it out , pat it dry and cut into small florets. Put 1 tsp oil into pan and add the florets of broccoli . Add a pinch of salt and pepper powder each. Stir fry by shaking the pan. After 3-4 minutes switch off the gas. Let it cool. Once cooled pack it
7. BELL PEPPER STIR FRY
Bell Pepper stir fry is awesome and healthy. Packed with antioxidants , this snack helps to boost the immunity.
Cut yellow and read bell peppers into small square pieces. Heat a teaspoon of oil in a pan and add the peppers. Add a pinch of salt and pepper powder and toss it well. After it cools down bell peppers provide sweetness which is very much preferred by toddlers.
8. BOILED CORN / CORN ON THE COB
Boil corn and cut it off like small corn on the cob pieces. It would be fun for them to have it on the go.
You can also take boiled corn , add salt , chat masala and lemon juice to make a spicy and tangy chat
9. AVOCADO
Avocados like apples can be cut and sprinkled with a little pepper and salt. Few drops of lime juice adds to the flavor as well.
- Read : Avocado mash for babies
10. FROZEN/ BAKED PEAS
Take a bowl of frozen / fresh peas and add olive oil/any vegetable oil and salt. Mix well. Spread in a baking tray and bake at 425 degree faranheit for 5-6 minutes or until the desired crispiness is achieved.
11. POHA / FLATTENED RICE
Kanda poha / poha upma / aval upma is a delicious and healthy snack which can be given to toddlers on the go.
12. PUFFED RICE / PORI
Heat a teaspoon of oil and crackle mustard seeds . Add curry leaves and a red chilly. Once its sauted , add 3-4 cloves of garlic and add the puffed rice to it when the raw smell of garlic goes away. Add a teaspoon of turmeric powder and salt as required. Mix well the crunchy and crispy snack is ready
13. BOILED / SCRAMBLED EGGS / MIXED VEGETABLE OMLETTE
Eggs can be an ideal snack in the form of mixed vegetable omlette , scrambled brown bread sandwich or boiled eggs.
14. DRY FRUITS
A trail mix of dry fruits can be quite engaging for a toddler and is quite healthy too. You can add badams, walnuts , pistas, fig, cashews and raisins to it or any combinations you like.
15. MINI PIZZAS
Get a brown bread pizza base . Spread tomato sauce on it . Add grated veggies and spread cheese with herbs . Pan Toast it covered on a tawa or bake it.
16. ROTI ROLLS
Make egg paratha , or rotis with egg , paneer or chicken stuffings . Very easy and healthy snack
17. FISH FINGERS
Choose any boneless fish like pomfret. Cut into finger length and width. Beat egg white in a bowl with pepper and salt. Dip the finger sized fish pieces in it and roll it in breadcrumbs. Fry it and take it out in an absorbent sheet.
You can also bake the fish fingers if not interested in deep frying.
18. PINEAPPLE WITH DIP
Cut pineapple into small bite size square pieces and provide cheese as a dip , makes an awesome and tasty snack for any picky toddlers
19. ZUCCHINI FINGERS
Cut zucchini into fingers. Preheat oven to 400 degree celsius and drizzle with olive oil and pinch of salt. Bake for 20-25 minutes . Super tasty zucchini fingers are ready.
20. HOME MADE BISCUITS
Mix whole wheat flour with butter , milk , wheatflour and 1 tbsp. sugar, Knead for 8-10 minutes and make small biscuits out of it. Bake for 30-45 minutes by placing on a greased cookie sheet till it gets a golden color. Store it airtight container once cooled completely. You can also add chocolate chips or almond shavings to the mixture to get chocolate or almond biscuits.
Hope you liked the 2o healthy on the go snacking options for toddlers and kids. If you have any other snacking ideas for toddlers which is healthy and yummy, please let me know.
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