Need more ideas for my toddlers snack tray

[Nu_Mommy_2003]

Every morning while making breakfast I make a snack tray too. After breakfast I set the tray out so my 2 yr old and me have healthly snacks at our disposal.

The 8 compartment tray normally contains:
Baby Carrots
Red seedless Grapes
Pineapple
Korean Pear cut-up
unsalted prezetels
Whole grain crackers
pieces of Swiss cheese
peanut butter or almond butter

My toddler eats all the grapes first because they are his favorite. Everyday we have the same tray and by the end of the day it is empty. DH comes home and finishes it off (he eats some before dinner and the rest he shares with DS for after dinner snacking). This method has moved my family away from junk food so I want to offer a little variety.

Please suggest snacks that can sit out

[tug]

nak --

wow! you are so smart -- i'm going to start doing that too!

for other sitting out foods, how about:

sunflower seeds
dried fruit (w/out the sugar and chemicals)
raisins (same vein as above)
cherry tomatoes
dates
rice cakes
...hm, i'll keep thinking

[cathe]

olives
unsweetened carob chips
orange sections
berries
snap peas

[rainbowmoon]

this a great idea! :

[annettemarie]

Great ideas!

[Nu_Mommy_2003]

snap peas
orange section

Won't this cause a choking hazard??? My DS likes oranges but can not seem to chew the skin/membrane (whatever you call it) part. So how do you give oranges in this situation

BTW - the try idea I got from a momma on this board and it has been one of the best things I have implemented in our home. It really cut the junk food eating out. And great for those unexpected kids that stop by to play.

[tug]

nu mommy - totally OT, but my two are almost exactly two years apart and just a month earlier than your two! hee hee.

[cathe]

[QUOTE=Nu_Mommy_2003]snap peas
orange section

Won't this cause a choking hazard??? My DS likes oranges but can not seem to chew the skin/membrane (whatever you call it) part. So how do you give oranges in this situation

QUOTE]

It depends on your child and which side of two they are on.

[gretasmommy]

If you slice the orange instead of peel it, and then cut the center membrane from each slice (does this make sense??), your DS might be able to eat it more easily. Try it at the table with close supervision first.

We also like to snack on almonds and cashews, dried apple rings, frozen veggies (yep, still frozen!) - but these you would need to refill from time to time to keep them crunchy, popcorn (regular, air popped, not processed in the microwave), figs, organic cereals, occasional veggie sticks with hummus . . . . mmmmmmm, must go to the kitchen now . . . .

[ComaWhite]

Heres a few things I put in mine that havent already been mentioned:

Homemade granola
puffed rice/millet (or kamut/wheat)
Blueberries
Beans (dd loves beans, lol)
baby spinach leaves
apple pieces
pumpkin seeds (shelled)
sprouted almonds (peeled)

[brijenn]

grapefruit

[chestnut]

A tad off the norm - but I am always suprised what the little ones will try and eat if given an opportunity.


- Edamame (cooked & shelled)
- Nori (strips to chew on)
- Rice Cakes (ones you can cook up with leftover rice and goodies) - I just make mini ones for snacks.
- dried apricots (so yummy and good for you to)
- Sweet Potato (cut into chunks, toss in oil, roast) - great to eat a room temp.

[nym]

hard boiled eggs pieces
frozen blueberries
cooked pasta (in different shapes, my DS loves eating cold cooked rotini)
cucumber slices
hummus
pita wedges

[mystic~mama]

:

[VikingKvinna]

What a marvelous idea! I need to start doing this...thanks to everyone for the inspiration and ideas. We're getting pretty tired of sliced apples and cheese around here.

~nick

[Nu_Mommy_2003]

Thanks momma!

Our tray today had:

Grapes (of course )
Nori
cooked cold whole wheat pasta wheels
apple slices
cucumber slices
homemade granola
carrots
plain popcorn

It was all gone :LOL DS even said "wow momma" when he saw the tray I will be copying all the ideas here to compile a list in MS Word to put on the fridge for easy access of your great suggestions. Thanks again!

[xenabyte]

Ya know, I usually do this when we have over guests and I want to have 'healthier' snack foods about..and I think, 'gee, this was nice, why don't I do it more often???'...

Thanks for the reminder and great idea to just have it out (in smaller portions) for everday use!. I'm sure my 3 yr old would just LOVE it too!

I've noticed the 3 year old is in the 'picky' stage and the 1 year old will try ANYTHING....I really appreciate some of the suggestions listed here too!

Thanks again moms!

[annettemarie]

OK, I have another question. I have three kids- six, three, and one. I would love to do this, but I am afraid teh older ones would hog up all the food and not leave any for the baby. Do I just try it for a week and see if the novelty wears off? Are there rules for the snack tray? Do I find a bigger tray?

[rosie29]

:

[Alkenny]

This is a great idea!

How about grape tomatoes, banana or apple chips, dried cranberries, melba toast (with hummus...mmmm!), puffed rice