Snacks for toddlers on-the-go

Life with toddlers tends to be a bit more calm if food is involved. Many mothers discover early on that snacks are an important part of a young child's day, especially when on-the-go. Sometimes it can be a problem to find snacks that are healthy, easily transported, and favorable to a child's palate. Below is a list of snacks little ones (and parents!) will enjoy on the run.

• Toddler Granola. Combine some standard favorites such as fish shaped snack crackers, pretzels, and raisins. Store in reusable snack bags to grab on the way out of the door.
• Dried Fruit. Fruit is always a good snack option for children but can quickly become a sticky mess when abandoned in the bottom of a diaper bag.Dried fruit offers all the nutrition of a piece of fruit with less mess. Dried strawberries, blueberries, and pineapple are particularly loved by toddlers.
• Homemade mini-muffins. Muffins are a great food to grab when heading out the door. Miniature versions of this popular food are easy for small fingers to grasp and are pleasing to young tummies.
• String cheese. Individual packages of string cheese are great snacks when on the go and can be easily grabbed from the refrigerator and tossed into a bag.
• Dry Cereal. Dry cereal has been a popular snack among the toddler crowd for quite the while. Try revamping this snack by providing children with a piece of yarn (knot one end) and small bag of cereal. Encourage little hands to string the cereal onto the yarn and then take it off again to snack on. This is a great snack and activity when traveling in the car for a lengthy amount of time.
• Prepackaged snacks. Grocery store shelves have begun stocking a variety of prepackaged snacks. Although a bit more costly than purchasing in bulk and packaging at home, these snacks are incredibly convenient for busy families. When selecting a prepackaged snack be sure that the snack is low is sugar, fat, and sodium. Prevention magazine compiled a list of healthy prepackaged snacks for children of all ages.
• Water bottle/sippy cup. Keeping toddlers hydrated is important, especially in the summertime months. Be sure to always have a cup or bottle of water handy for little ones on the go. Parents are recommend to purchase reusable cups that are BPA-free, such as the ones distributed by Sigg.

 Happy Snacking!

Feel free to leave a comment of a favorite snack that your toddler (or big kid) enjoys eating when on the go!