20 On-the-go Snacks For Your Baby/Toddler

A reader was asking me the other day what snacks are good for on-the-go (other than crackers). Here are some on-the-go snack options for when you can't or don't want to sit down with a knife and fork to feed them. As always, some of these items are for older toddlers or babies with more teeth so make sure you know what your child can handle. *A couple of these ideas do require using a spoon to feed your child (or for them to use one, if they can) or might be a bit messier - but they can still work for on-the-go if you are stopping to eat too.

1. Crackers (they are a good option! :o)) or pretzels
2. Dry cereal
3. Dried fruit - raisins, banana chips, dried apricots, etc.
4. "Pouches" of applesauce or other mixed purees - go for something organic, no sugar added, like one of these: Happy Baby Organic, Ella's Kitchen, or Plum Organics
5. Homemade muffins, bars, breads, etc. (those recipes ARE coming, I promise!)
6. Homemade "trail mix" (ex. dry cereal, raisins, any other dried fruits baby likes/will eat, a few chocolate chips, pretzels)
7. Banana (for when your baby can take bites), blueberries, cut up grapes or other fruits that don't brown easily.
8.  Frozen peas (they will defrost the longer you travel, but that doesn't matter!)
9. Peanut butter sandwich or cold grilled cheese (for when your baby can take bites)
10. Cooked pasta
11. Black beans
12. Healthy homemade pancakes (recipe coming soon)
13. Carrots, peppers, or other veggies (either soft cooked or if they can handle it, raw). You could bring a dip too, if you want*

If you want to take a cold pack:
14. Cheese
15. Yogurt*
16. Bagel & cream cheese
17. Hummus
18. Little meatballs
19. Leftovers*

20. Or, if your baby/toddler does well with drinks in the car you can make a smoothie for them like this one.

Healthy, Homemade Bars (& cookies)... for Tina!

Reader Tina wrote in asking, "Do you happen to know any recipes, or could you point me toward a site, for making bars/treats for kids.  I'm looking for some sort of granola bar or oatmeal cookie recipe.Kids love stuff like this, but the kind you buy are so full of sugar and who knows what

else."

I hope this info is helpful for you, Tina!

I don't yet have a granola bar recipe but here are two that I've been wanting to try - if you give them a go, let us know how they are!

1. Squash-based bars

2. Applesauce-based bars

As far as an oatmeal cookie recipe, I'm not really fans of oatmeal cookies, so I don't have one. But, some baking tips to make recipes healthier (you'll want to try them out to see how they work with your baking recipes):

- use whole wheat flour

- try using yogurt, pumpkin, bananas, or applesauce instead of oil/butter

- try using sucanat or honey for less processed/a bit healthier options for white sugar

- try using less sugar than the recipe calls for, or use applesauce or yogurt to replace some of it

I did find one oatmeal cookie recipe out there that could be a good healthy version: Banana Oatmeal Cookies.

Other options for replacing granola bars and the like for other easy and tasty snacks that kids like could be:

Muffins (like these)

Apple chips (core and slice apples, bake at 200 for about 2 hrs. - flip after 1 hr. - opt.: dust with a bit of cinnamon... full recipe coming soon!)

Banana bread

Whole Wheat Cheese Pretzels

Mini Oatmeal Pancakes

Recipes for some of these items will be coming in future posts! Most of them can be made in a toddler-friendly way as well. I will include that info in with those recipes. If you try any of these recipes, write in to let us know what you thought!