“Nutritional” Junk Food

Since Hayden mostly eats what we eat and no longer cries like he’s dying when he is hungry (just yells out what he wants), feeding him is much easier than when he was a baby.  However, he still eats 4-5 times a day.  Most of those are small meals, but once or twice a day he will just need a snack.

Ideally, I would have fresh fruit and home-baked goods for him every time, but this is not realistic.  Sometimes, I need something fast, easy, or portable. Other times, I am just tired of making things for him to eat!  Here are some easy, fast snack ideas- things that Hayden gets excited about because he thinks they are junk food.

Earth’s Best Homestyle Mini Waffles

This is our number one snack, the one thing Hayden won’t turn down (well, 99.9% of the time).  He likes them really soft, so each morning, I pop one into the toaster.  When it’s done, I put it in a lidded container, and let it sit.  He eats the waffles as a mid-morning or afternoon snack.

Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain Goldfish

These single serving pouches are great on the go, and the fish are easy for little fingers to pick up.

Clif Kid Z-Bar

We call these “cookies” because they are fairly sweet, but there’s no corn syrup, and they do have whole grains and some protein.  Clif bars generally have fewer weird ingredients than their competitors.

Barbara’s Whole Wheat Fig Bars

We also call these “cookies” because of their sweet flavor and chewy texture, but they are packed with fiber, and the whole wheat will stick with you longer than a traditional fig bar.  Barbara’s is also a good company to support.

Almond Butter Squeeze Packets

Little ones may need some help with these (to prevent a mess), but they are a protein-packed, delicious treat on the go!

Fruit Crushers

Genius.  Applesauce, or berry sauce, without the mess.  And if your little one doesn’t finish the packet, recap it for later.

Late July Mini Cheese Cracker Sandwiches

Yummy little cheddar n’ crackers bites in individual serving packets.

Freezer Pops

Hayden loves popsicles!  I puree fruit with a little soy milk, fill up the mold, and a few hours later we have popsicles!  I like the Tupperware brand because the loop handle is easier to hold onto than a stick.

Tags: feeding toddlers, kids' lunches, portable snacks, toddler snacks