Hi, I’m Lucy, the resident Dietitian and Nutritionist for The Family Food Collective and Pots For Tots! Now, I know feeding kids comes with tons of questions, and loads of pressure to feel like you're doing it right. It can be difficult wading through lots of nutrition noise out there. Things like fussy eating, weaning nutrients, and vitamins - parents understandably always have loads of questions.
Snack options for toddlers and young children is a topic parents ask me about weekly in clinic, and over on social media. Whilst every parent knows choosing healthy snacks is important, planning these, having time to make balanced snacks or finding them in supermarkets can be a real challenge.
Plus, the term ‘snack’ often has negative connotations, but the Pots For Tots team has worked really hard to create snacks for kids that offer variety, balance and convenience, but without compromising on nutrition.
Snacks offer a real opportunity to boost a child’s nutrition during the day, especially toddlers who have high energy and nutrient needs but small stomachs. The range of ingredients Pots For Tots use aims to provide your child with a variety of balanced snack options, tailored to the needs of growing children!
So, let’s take a closer look at the full menu of delicious Pots For Tots toddler snacks!
BROCCOLI TOTS
Obviously, our hero ingredient in these tots is broccoli, contributing over 50% to the overall ingredients. This green veggie is packed full of Vitamin C, folate and fibre. It can be difficult to get toddlers to tuck into greens, but paired with some tangy cheddar cheese and onion you can have peace of mind these tasty tots will be enjoyed by any vegetable-dodging toddlers.
Serving suggestion: Add some extra protein and a boost of calcium by combining these tots with Greek yoghurt as a dip. You could flavour this with garlic, dried or fresh herbs for a twist, or simply offer alongside some chopped veggies or fruit for an easy nutritious addition to snack time.
APRICOT & CARROT OAT BITES
Double orange with our hero ingredients apricot and carrot means a healthy dose of beta-carotene, which is used by the body to support vision and eye health. Dried apricots are also a source of iron, a key nutrient for young children.
Serving suggestion: Pair these bites with nutrient-boosting extras like yoghurt, nut butter or even crumble over some stewed or mashed fruit!
FISH BITES
A balanced snack all in one can be hard to come by for kids. These fish bites combine protein-rich white fish with energy-providing potato alongside some tasty seasoning for the easiest balanced snack on the go.
Serving suggestion: Combine with a portion of fruit or veggies for a perfectly balanced snack or even a meal!
COURGETTE & SWEETCORN BITES
A combination of Vitamin C-packed courgette with fibre-rich sweetcorn, mean these bites offer a nutritious but delicious snack for kids.
Serving suggestion: Combine with a dip like plain or Greek yoghurt with garlic for some extra protein and nutrients at snack time or these pair super well with a tangy tomato salsa.
APPLE AND CINNAMON OAT BITES
Fibre is an often overlooked nutrient, but essential for keeping our guts healthy and happy at all ages. These oat bites provide nearly 20% of a toddler's (2-5 years) recommended fibre intake in one serving thanks to the two main ingredients - apple and oats!
Serving suggestion:
- Pair these with a portion of fruit, or a plain yoghurt flavoured with vanilla or ginger, or dairy alternative e.g. coconut.
- Warm these up with a little low-sugar custard for a great second course at meals too.
- Add some extra fat ( a key nutrient for toddlers) by spreading these bits with a little smooth peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter or tahini
MINI BANANA PANCAKES It goes without saying our hero ingredient in these pancakes is the humble banana. Whilst it’s a mainstay in most fruit bowls, its ever-changing colour means fickle children can often take or leave it - but not with these pancakes! Banana is a great source of potassium, fibre and magnesium. The gut-loving ingredients in these pancakes should also be celebrated, alongside bananas we’ve included fibre-rich oats and chicory root!
These pancakes are a personal favourite, so I have a whole host of serving suggestions for you:
- Team with some full-fat yoghurt mixed with smooth nut butter as a dip or topping - for a top-up of energy, protein calcium and healthy fats.
- Pair with different fruits, such as raspberries, strawberries, kiwi or mango.
- Banana and peanut butter is a match made in heaven, use smooth peanut butter (or almond butter) in-between two pancakes for a delicious pancake sandwich! A speedy nutritious on-the-go snack.
- For a tropical twist, pair these pancakes with coconut yoghurt (great if you're dairy free) and some tangy pineapple or mango.
- Easy summer snack? Put a lolly stick into each pancake, dip in yoghurt (or melted chocolate), add sprinkles of your choice and freeze.
- Use your pancake to build a healthy kids’ trifle - add to the bottom of a bowl, top with some defrosted frozen berries and their juice, then add some custard (keep it low sugar by using custard powder and adding blended banana or less sugar), and top with creamy greek yoghurt.
I hope these healthy snack ideas have given you some inspiration for your little foodies - make sure to take a look at the full range and let us know what you think! And make sure to follow @pots_for_tots and @childrensdietitian on Instagram, for more nutrition and mealtime support.