Snack time is a great opportunity to fill in some extra nutrients to your little one’s tummy. Instead of giving your kids processed and junk foods, give them whole foods that will provide energy and essential nutrients. We have come up with a perfect combo of fiber, vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fats that will satisfy and fuel up your busy child. Keep reading to know what are the healthy snacks for kids and toddlers.
Healthy Snacks Grow Healthy Kids
Eating between meals is very essential for the proper growth and nutrition of your child. When kids are active, they need an increased amount of energy as well as nutrients. Kids need to eat adequate calories, but as they have tiny tummies, they can’t eat large amounts at a time. Eating healthy snacks help to satisfy hunger between meals and also boosts their energy levels.
Read: Ways to Prevent Malnutrition in Kids
Healthy Snacks for Kids
Have a look at these amazing healthy snacks for kids.
- Oatmeal
Oatmeal is an incredibly nutritious food item that you can give your kids as a snack. They are an excellent source of essential vitamins, minerals as well as antioxidant plant compounds.
Oats are high carbs and fiber, including the powerful soluble fiber beta-glucan. They are gentle on digestion and help to promote fullness as well as a healthy appetite while preventing gas.
This fiber rich food acts as a natural laxative that helps to prevent constipation by adding bulk to the stools so as to make the bowel movement process gentler. Since it aids better digestion, oatmeal can also be considered as one of the healthy breakfast foods.
You can mix fruits and nuts into oatmeal to make it more flavourful for your baby to enjoy. It blends well with other foods, and also you are free to serve it hot or cold.
- Cheese
Fun, yummy, and healthy, cheese is a must snack in your shopping list. It is loaded with dietary protein that helps to build your child’s bone, muscles, and other vital organs.
Cheese contains milk, which is a great source of calcium. Regular consumption of cheese prevents tooth cavity as well as bone problems, making it a perfect snack for your growing child. It supports your child’s brain health, heart health, and gut health.
- Hard-boiled eggs
Being a good source of high-quality protein, eggs are a healthy snack option for your children. The presence of protein in eggs helps in cell recreation and creation. It also provides them with the energy required to remain active throughout the day.
Eggs contain selenium and zinc that can strengthen your child’s immune system. Selenium kills the harmful bacteria, whereas zinc maintains the good cells that fight the microorganisms.
Almost all types of vitamins, including vitamin A, D, K, E, B-6, and B-12, are found in eggs. It also contains riboflavin, niacin, and folate. All these vitamins are essential for the growth of your child in one way or the other.
Read: Foods Highest in Vitamin B-12
Eggs contain choline, which helps in boosting the learning process and memory. It also contains lutein and zeaxanthin, which helps in improving eyesight and safeguarding eyes against the UV rays.
- Cookies
Cookies are one of the many things that kids will never say no to. If you are a health-conscious mom, then you would probably not let your kid eat cookies. But, did you know that you can include cookies as a part of a healthy eating plan too?
To make healthy cookies, use the right ingredients which provide additional proteins, fibers, carbs, minerals, vitamins, sugar and energy.
- Peanut butter
Peanut butter is another great snack option for kids. It is loaded with nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, monounsaturated fatty acids, pantothenic acid, niacin, riboflavin, pyridoxine, thiamin, manganese, magnesium, sodium, phosphorous, calcium, copper, zinc, selenium, essential vitamins, and iron.
You can pair peanut butter with celery, banana, apple, and even whole grains. It helps in enhancing the immune system, strengthens the muscles, improves heart health, aids digestion and promotes the brain health of your child.
- Bananas
Known for its high nutrient content and versatility, banana is an ideal snack for your kids. Bananas contain vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium, fiber, iron, vitamin A, biotin, and many other nutrients.
The water-soluble pectins in bananas aid proper digestion by converting carbohydrates into simpler sugars. Regular intake of this fruit regulates bowel movements of your kid and prevents gastrointestinal problems.
Being a potassium-rich fruit, bananas can make your child’s bones strong. The vitamin A in bananas improves your child’s vision and also protects the retina from diseases.
Bananas are a super convenient food that can be carried around easily.
Sometimes when the kids don’t show interest in eating food, parents have a tendency to show videos on their smartphones to make them eat. This later becomes a habit which will affect your child’s overall health in many ways. If you think that this has turned into a habit or addiction, don’t wait, find ways to reduce smartphone addiction in kids immediately.
Healthy Snacks for Toddlers
- Slices of fruits
- Cereals
- Yoghurt
- Dried fruits
- Veggies
Read: How to Take Care of Newborn Babies and Toddlers?
Some kids are allergic to certain foods, so before giving them these snacks, find out whether or not your little one is allergic to that particular food. For that, it is always recommended to seek help from an expert doctor. You can also consult a doctor online.
