Quick and Easy Snacks For Toddlers That Don't Have Added Sugar
If your toddler is a perpetual snacker, you're certainly not alone. Toddlers snack like their lives depend on it, and while getting enough food into their growing bodies is important, snacking is all about balance. Granola bars and fruity yogurt drinks are fun and easy snacks, but if you're finding that your kiddo asks for something new to munch on every hour — or if you're in need of some new after-school or daycare snack inspiration — we have a bunch of quick and delicious ideas that don't contain added sugars and will keep your child satisfied . . . at least until the next "Snack please!"
Keep scrolling to get some inspiration for snacks that are easy to store and serve, and will hopefully pique your toddler's interest.
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Bananas
Bananas are definitely filling, so slice one up for the perfect satisfying snack for a hungry toddler.
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Hummus
Hummus is a great dip for everything — carrots, celery, cucumbers — or it can be spread on your child's favorite crackers.
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Bell Peppers
Slice up a sweet bell pepper and serve it with some hummus, veggie dip, or even plain.
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Watermelon
Slices of watermelon are the perfect sweet snack — you can even freeze watermelon squares on popsicle sticks as a cold summertime treat.
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Apples
Slice up an apple and sprinkle with a bit of cinnamon for extra flavor — or serve it plain, with yogurt dip, or with a bit of nut butter.
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Cucumbers
Slices of cucumber may seem like a bland snack, but put a bowl of cukes with some veggie dip in front of your little one, and they might disappear faster than you'd think.
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Fruit Popsicles
If you have a popsicle mold at home, fresh fruit and a bit of water or milk are all you need to make these delicious frozen treats.
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Yogurt
Yogurt is a great snack, but yogurt marketed toward kids and fruit-on-the-bottom cups tend to have added sugar. Plain Greek yogurt with some fruit or cinnamon mixed in is a good way to balance out the yogurt tubes your kids love slurping up.
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Smoothies
If you have a blender, you can whip up fruit smoothies for your kids in no time. You can go straight fruit (fresh or frozen) and water, or add a bit of milk or Greek yogurt to thicken it up.
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Hard-Boiled Eggs
With or without the yolks, hard-boiled eggs are a substantial snack for hungry little ones whose tastes lean savory. (You can even make them in your Instant Pot!)
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Tomatoes
Slice up a tomato for eating plain or with a sprinkle of salt on top; or serve them with a side of dip, like hummus or ranch dressing.
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Clementines
Grab a bag of the seedless, easy-peel ones that your toddler can unwrap themselves.
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Avocados
Slice up half an avocado and serve it in a bowl or smush some onto a piece of toast as a hearty snack.
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Pickles
Pickles are a great simple snack for kids. You could even make your own as a family, which would be a fun activity with a delicious ending.
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Grapes
Grapes are a sweet and juicy snack for toddlers (check out this handy diagram for how to cut grapes before serving them so your little one doesn't choke)!
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Raisins
Although raisins are high in natural sugars, little ones with a sweet tooth will love munching on them. And if you serve raisins in a snack-size box, your child will inadvertently have to work on their fine motor skills to get them out one by one!
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Green Beans
Raw green beans are a crunchy and satisfying snack. Tip: if your kiddo isn't exactly into greens, try serving them with a dip they like to get them on board, or leave a bean or two on the side of another veggie they like just to expose them to the new food.
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Rice Cakes
You can serve up a plain rice cake for a crunchy snack, or swipe some peanut butter or a dollop of yogurt on top.