Snacks For Toddlers

Snacks for toddlers can be a range of finger foods, fruits, vegetable pieces and healthy crackers. Toddler snacks are important for toddlers because toddlers only have small appetites and use a lot of energy, so will need food little and often. Snacks can be part of a healthy diet for kids and you can always try new toddler recipes for a bit of variety.

When you are out and about bring some toddler snacks with you along with a drink of water in a beaker. Avoid fruit juices because they are not healthy for your toddler's teeth or diet and they simply do not need them. It's fine to have diluted fruit juices now and again but avoid getting into the habit of always offering juice. A healthy diet for kids is so essential and it's up to parents to encourage and provide it.

Quick and easy snacks for toddlers are:

• carrot sticks
• cucumber sticks
• A cracker or breadstick
• dried sultanas or raisins
• apple wedges (peeled)
• pear wedges (peeled)
• banana pieces
• melon pieces (peeled)
• strawberry pieces
• chopped grapes (peeled)
• nectarine pieces
• Other fruit pieces

Toddler snacks at home can be as above or you could have some oatcakes or crackers with hummus, a grated cheese, or a little chopped meat or flaked fish on top. You can easily make faces on a cracker with little bits of tomato, cucumber, carrots and raisins. Snacks for toddlers can be fun and easy and you don't have to do lots of cooking if you haven't the time or aren't in the mood.

But in case you are...here are a couple of toddler recipes that were a big hit with both toddlers and adults too.

Snacks For Toddlers: Mini Pasties

Pasties are great for picnics or if you know you need a meal on the move. Here we've given you the ingredients to make 12 small pasties. It's worth making a batch as they can be frozen for 3 months. Whilst the pastry is chilling you can prepare the vegetables and make the filling.

To make the pastry:
400g/14oz wholemeal flour
150g/6oz butter, softened
cold water

Filling
250g/9oz cooked meat e.g. mince, chopped chicken, chopped pork, chopped steak
2tsp dried mixed herbs
6 tbsp passata
2 medium onion, finely chopped
1 large potato, peeled and chopped in small cubes
150/6oz swede, peeled and chopped in small cubes (or carrot, or sweet potato)
2 tbsp olive oil
A little milk to coat the pastie
1 oz/25g butter

To make the pastry
1. Preheat the oven to 220C/425F/Gas Mark 7
2. To make the pastry, place the flour and butter in a bowl and rub with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs
3. Add in enough cold water to make a dough
4. Wrap in clingfilm and refrigerate for 30 mins

Whilst the pastry is in the fridge:
1. Grease a baking tray with a little butter
2. Simply put all the filling ingredients in a bowl and mix together
3. Flour a surface and rolling pin

Then take the pastry out of the fridge and,
1. Roll out the pastry until it is about half a centimetre thick
2. For small pasties for toddlers use a 8cm (3inch) cutter (or cup) to cut out circles in the pastry
3. Put some filling on one half of the pasty
4. Add a little butter on top of the filling
5. Dampen the edges of the pastry with a little water
6. Folder the pastry over the filling to make a semi-circle
7. Pinch the pasty edges together
8. Brush a little milk over the top
9. Place the pasties on the baking tray and bake for 10 mins
10. After 10 mins turn the temperature down to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4 and cook for a further 20 minutes
11. Remove from the oven and let them cool down.
12. Enjoy them warm or cold.

Here is an easy and yummy recipe which cut up into little squares, makes great little snacks for toddlers.

Snacks For Toddlers: Fruity Cinnamon Bread

If you have time or a day at home try some making bread. It's so easy to buy bread you forget how easy it is to make your own. But once you have you remember how tasty and how the lovely smell fills your house, you'll probably do it again. This yummy bread is bound to be a hit.

500g of strong white flour plus flour of dusting
25g butter
7g of quick acting dried yeast
300ml warm water
40g currants
40g dried apricots, finely chopped
2tsp ground cinnamon
6tbsp of clear runny honey
A little butter to grease the baking tray

1. Select a large mixing bowl.
2. Flour a surface ready to put your dough on.
3. Have the fruits chopped and ready.
4. Lightly grease a baking tray.
5. Crumble the butter into the flour with your fingertips.
6. Mix in the yeast.
7. Make a well in the center and pour the water gently in the well.
8. Mix the ingredients to make a dough.
9. Place the dough on the floured surface.
10. Knead for about 10 minutes to make the dough elastic-like.
11. Flatten the dough until it is about 3-4cm or 1.5 inches thick and it's in a rectangular shape.
12. Spread honey over the surface leaving a border of about an inch.
13. On top of the honey sprinkle on the fruit and cinnamon.
14. Roll up the dough to make a loaf shape and put it on the baking tray.
15. Leave it to rise for 30-45 minutes in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size (good places are on radiators, in airing cupboards, near a stove) and set the oven to 220C,Gas Mark 7.
16. Place the bread in the center of the oven and bake for 25-35 minutes. You'll know when it's cooked - if you turn the break upside down and tap it it should sound hollow.
17. Place on a wire rack to cool.

You can serve it as it is, or have a little butter on it.

When you're going out you can bring a slice this yummy bread with you!

Snacks for toddlers do not have to be time consuming though. A fresh piece of fruit, a vegetable, some hummus or other dips, a little grated cheese, any food left from his lunch can all be part of your toddler's healthy and nourishing diet.