Snacks are an important part of your baby and toddlerÕs
diet. Most children need at least 3 meals and 3 snacks daily to provide enough nutrition for their growing
bodies. Depending upon the age of your baby, some Ôsnack timesÕ might be breast
milk and/or formula. As the parent, you are in charge of what and when you offer your child to eat. Your child is in
charge of whether to eat and how
much.
Snack time is a great opportunity to offer foods from food groups that may be lacking
in your babyÕs diet. So when you are thinking of snacks, consider things from
the bread/starch, dairy, fruit and veggie group. BabyÕs and childrenÕs protein needs arenÕt
terribly high, and are typically met via breast milk, formula, cowÕs milk and
protein foods at meal time. Try to offer 2-3 different foods and/or drinks at snack time. To keep things easy, offer baby what you
are having as a snack. You may need to
modify it a bit depending upon her age, chewing and swallowing ability.
Use your judgment
when trying new foods to determine if it is a choking hazard for your baby. You may need to mash, chop, shred or
soft cook some food to make it safe.
Dairy Group:
Cheese cut into cubes. If using cheese sticks, tear length
wise to avoid choking
Yogurt (full fat until 2 yrs)
Frozen Yogurt Tubes
Fruit and yogurt smoothies
Cottage cheese and fruit
Milk (full fat until 2 yrs)
Fruit Group:
Any fresh, frozen, dried or canned fruit will do. For example: Banana slices or strips, diced apples, berries of any kind (for babies,
consider peeling fruit and cooking hard ones like apples & pears)
Freeze dried blueberries, strawberries, apples (or other fruit)
Raisins, dried cranberries or apricots
Applesauce
Vegetable Group:
Use leftovers from dinner
Frozen peas, carrots, corn (as baby gets older she may like
them unthawed)
Any cooked veggie, for example: zucchini and other squash, broccoli,
cauliflower, carrots, sweet or white potato, asparagus
Freeze dried veggies
Edamame (soy beans)
Bread/Starch Group:
Crackers (consider whole grain ones like: Triscuits, Wheat Thins,
Kashi TLC)
Bread and bread sticks, frozen waffle, toast strips with butter, bagel with cream cheese or nut butter
Pretzels, popcorn, graham crackers
Dry Cereal (consider whole grain, unsweetened ones like:
Cherrios, Rice Krispies, Corn Puffs, Puffed Rice, Kix, Mighty Bites, Shredded
Wheat, Raisin Bran)
Pasta, rice
Muffins, granola and cereal bars
Protein Group:
Beans
Eggs (hard boiled or scrambled)
Nuts and nutbutters
Lunch meat
Misc.
Sliced Olives
Avocado Slices
Smoothies
Spinach Nuggets
Juice Popsicles
Quesadillas
See chart below for foods to be cautious about. Please
consult your healthcare provider if you have any concerns or questions.
Honey
|
After 1 yr
|
Peanut Butter
|
After 1-3 yrs *
|
Tree Nuts
|
After 1-3 yrs *
|
Citrus or Acidic Fruit
|
After 1 yr
|
Strawberries
|
After 1-2 yrs *
|
Corn
|
After 1 yr
|
Egg White
|
After 1 yr
|
Whole Milk
|
After 1 yr
|
Wheat
|
After 8-12 months *
|
Grapes (choking)
|
After 10-12 months
|
Shellfish
|
After 1-2 yrs. *
|
Chocolate
|
After 1 yr
|
*there is some variance as to when to start certain foods.
Basically if there are known food allergies, baby is food sensitive, or there
is a close relative with food allergies, then it is best to wait until the
later age. If the baby is not food sensitive and does not have allergies, the
earlier date should be fine.
Resources:
Any book by Ellyn Satter. Child of Mine: Feeding with
Love and Good Sense is highly recommended.
www.wholesomebabyfood.com
**Special thanks to
Karen Posselt for her suggestions and ideas**
If you have any questions and/or concerns about feeding your
baby, his nutrition or growth, please contact Stephanie Brooks, MS, RD at Bay
Area Nutrition, LLC for an individual consultation.