Toddler Snacking Mistakes (and Suggestions for Better Toddler Snack Choices)

Does your toddler want to eat all day long? Here are Toddler Snacking Mistakes and Suggestions for Better Toddler Snack Choices.

Toddler Snacking Mistakes

Toddlers prefer snacks over meals – at least my daughters do. The pediatrician said toddlers’ bellies can’t hold large meals, so for some young children it is more satisfying to graze instead of gobble. Toddler snacking is acceptable as long as you are avoiding common mistakes and offering satisfying and acceptable toddler snacks.

Toddler Snacks During Car Rides

There is no law against giving your toddler snacks during a car ride. Road trips are only survivable with a stash of snacks for everyone in the car (kept in this awesome box). However, it be dangerous to allow your toddler to eat unsupervised in the backseat.

Make safe snack choices for your family during car rides. I’ll never forget the first time I heard about my friend’s toddler choking on a raisin while in her car seat. She was okay, but not all choking situations end happily. Want to know more? Read about safe car snacks here.

Snacking to Avoid Boredom

If you give your toddler a snack every time you strap them in a car seat, stroller, or grocery cart, your child will learn to expect food in all of these instances. I’m guilty of giving my toddler a snack as a distraction, but it is important my girls enjoy the activity (like a stroller ride). If I always give snacks during activities my toddler may focus on eating instead of what we are doing. My mom always told me to pay attention while I was eating to avoid mindless snacking and I want my daughters to do the same!

Too Many Snacks Before a Meal

If your toddler has too many snacks throughout the day, he or she won’t be ready to eat at mealtime. Schedule snack-time between meals. It can be difficult, but if you stick to a schedule, then your toddler is reassured they will eat.

Handing Out Treats as ‘Snacks’ to Toddlers

The snacks your toddler eats should be healthy, with whole grains, protein or rich in vitamins, and not sugar laden. Handing out treats as snacks will encourage your toddler to expect a little bit of chocolate they normally get for going on the potty as a mid-morning snack.

FACT: I’m totally guilty of all these toddler snacking mistakes.

Toddler Snack Suggestions

The best snacks for toddlers are easy and healthy. My daughters love to eat a variety of snacks – some are healthy and others are not the most nutritious. I try to keep a variety of snacks stocked in our house to avoid unhealthy choices. I buy a lot of snacks in bulk at Costco! We also encourage drinking water over sugar-y drinks and limit all natural fruit juice.

Here is a list of my toddler’s favorite snacks:

String Cheese or Cheese Shreds
Applesauce
Ham/turkey slices
Hard boiled eggs
Fresh Fruit – Strawberries, Blueberries, Apple Slices, Bananas
Goldfish
Carrot sticks with dip
Cucumbers
Hummus with pretzels
Popcorn – All Natural or Homemade
Peanut Butter (on a spoon or with a rice cake)

Our not so healthy favorite snacks: Pirate’s Booty, Chex Mix, Fruit Juice Popsicles, Fig Bars, Annie’s Bunny Snacks, All Natural Fruit Snacks

This post is not sponsored. All opinions are my own. Please note, there are affiliate links found in this post. Original post published in 2018.