Product Spotlight! Top 25 Toddler Snack Foods

What's in your snack drawer? Toddler snacks frequently contain added sugars, preservatives, and refined carbohydrates, all of which provide little nutrition for growing bodies. Research shows sweet snacks such as cookies, cereal bars, and cakes continue to supply the largest share of snacking calories, a number that has more than doubled from 1977-2006. Rather than nutrient-poor choices, check out the latest smart snacks from FEED*.

Breakstone's Cottage Cheese Singles - Convenient single-serve containers of low-fat cottage cheese, an easy way to incorporate dairy into your toddler's diet. Just one provides 90 calories, 10 grams of protein (which is about 1/2 of your toddler's daily needs!), and about 100 milligrams of calcium. Carr's Whole Wheat Crackers - Rather than typical crackers made with refined flour, these are made with 100% whole wheat flour, with similar sweetness to graham crackers. Try these with low-fat cheese or natural cheese spread, such as Laughing Cow. Chia Seeds - Omega-3 power-houses, chia seeds do not need to be ground. Add 1/4 cup chia seeds to 1 cup almond milk and mix with 2 TBSP cocoa powder, 1 TBSP honey, 2 TBSP brown sugar. Let mixture rest for a few minutes, and stir again. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. Enjoy! Chobani Yogurt Bites (Raspberry with Dark Chocolate Chips) - 100 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 13 grams of sugar, 8 grams of protein, a sweet chocolaty treat and a great dessert alternative. Del Monte Hass Avocado Singles - 90 calories, 4 grams of fiber, and an excellent source of heart healthy fat; Use as a dip for veggies, spread on a sandwich, convenient way to incorporate healthy fat into your little one. Earthbound Farm Organic Apple Slices - Many pre-sliced fruit servings contain at least 1-2 whole apples, but for toddler-sized bellies, toddler-sized portions are important. Check out these little 90 calorie packs of apples for a quick on-the-go fruit snack. Eggland's Best Hard-Cooked & Peeled Eggs - Never an excuse for too little time to make a nutrient-packed breakfast. These eggs are already cooked AND peeled! Choose these for quick protein-filled breakfast, lunch, or anytime snack. FAGE Total 0% Plain Greek Yogurt - Great on its own, a sour cream substitute, or topped with fruit. Choose this to make a quick and easy dip for fresh veggies. Mix together 1 cup Greek yogurt with 1 TBSP fresh dill, 1 tsp salt, and 2 TBSP chopped cucumber. Enjoy! GoGo SqueeZ Fast Fruit - Want a serving of fruit with just 80 calories? Try these new products from GoGo Squeeze that provide 2 grams of fiber, 1 gram of protein, without any added sugar. HAPPYBABY Happy Munchies Veggie Puffs - Made with whole grain corn, broccoli, and kale, these have about 60% less sodium than other toddler snacks. KIND Healthy Grains - Top low-fat yogurt with this granola rather than others that contain hydrogenated oils and other not-so-good-for-you ingredients. Each serving (1/3 cup) contains 17 grams of whole grains. Kozy Shack Original Rice Pudding - Low in fat, rich in protein, made with all-natural ingredients, and just 140 calories in this calcium-filled treat! This pudding provides a more nutritious choice than other concentrated sugar-rich snacks such as gummy fruit snacks or Jell-O. LARA Bar - Made with all-natural ingredients including nuts and dried fruit. Rather than loads of ingredients you cannot pronounce, try this bar as a protein-packed snack choice. Laughing Cow LIGHT Spreadable Cheese - Try this as a cream cheese alternative. Spread on whole-grain crackers, or top celery and dot with raisins as a peanut butter alternative for ants on a log. Each provides only 35 calories, 2 grams of protein; a great choice for the whole family to enjoy. Laughing Cow Mini Babybel LIGHT Cheese - Each piece provides 50 calories, 3 grams of fat, 6 grams of protein, and about 200 mg of calcium. Tasty low-fat cheese for an on-the-go bone-building snack! Lifeway Kefir Probiotic Cultured Milk Smoothie - Each cup provides 300 mg of calcium (about 60% of a toddler's daily requirements), 11 grams of protein, and just 2 grams of fat. Rather than using artificial colors and food dyes, as in other flavored yogurts, this one is naturally colored from fruit and vegetable juice. Lundberg Farms Organic Cinnamon Toast Rice Cakes - Does your toddler like sweet treats for a snack? Try this super crunchy, cinnamon-sweet rice cake. Just 80 calories per cake, each contains 1 gram of fiber, a great alternative to graham crackers. Newman's Own High Protein Whole Grain Pretzels - Unlike typical refined-flour pretzels, choose this whole-grain, protein-fortified variety! A FEED favorite! With 4 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein, these pretzels provide a nutrient-packed punch! Newman's Own Organic Raisins - Unlike other raisin brands, these don't contain any added sugar. Great snack-size serving for toddlers, too! Sabra Classic Hummus Singles - What's better than a single serving of protein-packed, iron-rich, fiber-filled hummus? Take on the road for an afternoon snack, or toss in a lunch bag for a delicious dip. Seapoint Farms Shelled Edamame - Soybeans provide an excellent source of fiber and protein. These convenient single-serve snack packs are a great on-the-go toddler snack choice. Edamame is low-fat, a good source of protein, and a naturally gluten-free food. Sensible Foods Dried Fruit - Freeze dried, no added preservatives; fantastic alternative to chips for a crunchy snack, without the added fat and calories. Silk Chocolate Soy Milk (Non-Refrigerated) - As an alternative dairy product, soy milk makes a fantastic milk replacement that provides a comparable source of calcium, vitamin D, protein, and fat. Choose this non-GMO variety for a delicious afternoon treat. Want more? Silk comes shelf-stable, thus you can leave it in your pantry without refrigeration; ready to pack in a lunch box or grab for travel. Stonyfield YoKids Low-Fat Organic Yogurt - As compared to other kid-friendly yogurts, this one is lower in sugar, and contains more natural ingredients such as fruit and vegetable juices. Thomas' Light Multigrain English Muffins - Try these whole grain muffins as a bread alternative, with just 100 calories, 8 grams of fiber, 5 grams of protein, and about 200 mg of calcium! Another FEED favorite! Check out this recipe for Apple Cheese Melts! Look for these fantastic products at stores near you. Replace your usual toddler snacks with some of these nutrient-dense choices! For more product suggestions, contact FEED at www.feednutrition.com. Related Links: Children are hungrier for snacks - March 2, 2010 Top 25 Food Products of 2012: Pantry “Must Haves” – December 6, 2012 Is your child a "Picky Eater" - October 2, 2012 *Disclosure statement: FEED KIDS, LLC has no financial interest in any of the above products with the exception of those hyperlinked. The noted products were chosen due to their superior nutritional profile and are recommended by Lara Field, MS, RD, CSP, LDN.