Finding nutritious and yummy snacks for kids with food allergies can be a challenge. Here are seven best snacks for kids with food allergies that are easy to prepare.

Fruit Skewers

Give fruits extra flair by serving them on skewers. Slice fruits into big chunks and let your toddler cut them into smaller pieces using a kitchen knife for children. Apple, banana, grape, pear, strawberry and watermelon are a good match. Alternate the chunks of fruits on the skewers. Serving fruit skewers with a dip makes this snack more delightful for your little one. Fruit skewers or fruit kabobs serve as a healthy snack for kids with food allergies.

Petite Pizzas

Children will definitely go crazy over this snack. Provide the ingredients and let your toddler get creative in making his own pizza. Give him half of an English muffin, have him put on a dollop of tomato sauce and let him choose which toppings he wants – grated cheese, pepperoni, sliced olives, bell pepper and diced vegetables. Bake the pizza until cheese melts and watch your toddler chomp with gusto. These are perfect snacks for toddlers who are allergic to eggs, fish, nuts or soy.

Veggies and Dips

Prepare a variety of vegetables – carrots, celery, cucumber, corn, lettuce and mild radishes. Ask your toddler to wash them and then cut the vegetables into small chunks. Use different bowls for the vegetables and offer some sour cream and some herbs and spices. Veggies and dips is a great snack for kids with food allergies, particularly those allergic to eggs, fish, nuts, peanuts, soy and wheat.

Quesadillas

This one is another classic snack even kids with food allergies can enjoy. Fold a flour tortilla in half and fill with cheese and some vegetables, glaze the outsides of the tortilla with butter and cook in a pan or sandwich grill. Once golden brown, cut it into smaller pieces for easy eating. Serve salsa, bean or sour cream for dipping. Quesadillas are perfect snacks for toddlers who are allergic to dairy, fish and wheat.

Gluten-free Crepes

Crepes are one of the most popular snacks for children. Make this snack for kids with food allergies possible by using cooked fruits (apple, banana or strawberry), minced onion, tomato and zucchini or scrambled egg as fillings. Fill the crepe with your toddler’s choice of filling and add a little sugar, cinnamon or nutmeg. Use goat’s milk or Daiya cheese instead of cow’s milk.

Sesame-free Hummus

To make hummus, you will need washed and drained chicken peas, minced onion, cumin, lemon juice, salt and water to taste. Slice some bell pepper, carrot, celery and cucumber into strips to dip into the hummus. Add some extra olive oil for more flavor.

Rice Crispy Bars

You will need 2 packets of unflavored gelatin, 2 cups allergy-friendly powdered sugar, 2/3 cup rice syrup, ½ cup water and 8 cups of Kellogg’s gluten-free rice crispies. Combine powdered sugar, rice syrup and water on a pre-heated pan and bring to a boil with continuous whisking. In a separate bowl, empty the contents of the gelatin envelopes and immerse in ½ cup water. Quickly stir mixture until smooth. Place gelatin and gradually drizzle the hot candy mixture in a bowl. Beat the mixture until it is fluffy. Pour in 6 cups of Kellogg’s gluten-free rice crispies and stir. Next, ask your toddler to lather his hands with palm oil and have him mold and shape the rice crispies. Lastly, place them on a wax paper to freeze for 15 minutes.

There you have it. These fun and scrumptious snacks can provide a safe and healthy way to satisfy kids with food allergies.

A healthy diet is essential for children, especially those who go to school. However, it can be overwhelming to figure out what snack to prepare for your toddler every day. But, with a little creativity, any parent can pack a healthy snack for kids lunchbox without the fuss.

Sandwiches

Sandwiches are a classic, filling and nutritious option for a toddler’s lunchbox. Instead of using white bread, use brown bread (either whole wheat or multi-grained), soft tortillas for wraps or pita pockets. You can try different sandwich fillings. Peanut butter, jelly, cheese, cubed chicken, corn, bacon, ham, thin slices of roast beef or turkey, tuna and grilled vegetables should do the trick. Toast the bread, remove the crusts and make mini sandwich shapes for a fun, bite size snack to eat.

Fruits

Fruits are an ideal way to add sweetness to your toddler’s lunchbox. Cut up different pieces of fruit into cubes such as apple, apricot, banana, papaya, peach, pear, orange, strawberry, kiwi and watermelon. Combine all of them in a small plastic container to make it colorful. To make it even yummier, offer a tasty dip such as yogurt, cream or peanut butter. This will ensure you that your toddler gets his daily dose of fiber, protein, potassium and vitamin C even if he is in school.

Vegetables

Vegetables can be a tricky snack to give your little one. But, with a little creativity, you can get your toddler to enjoy this healthy snack. Veggies such as broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cherry tomatoes and cucumber are popular snacks. Because toddlers love dipping their foods, do not forget to throw in a small container filled with low-fat ranch dressing to increase the taste factor.

Starchy Foods

Cereal, pasta, bagel, crackers, pretzels, almonds, sunflower seeds, muffins and energy bars are also great additions to your toddler’s lunchbox. Starchy foods are rich in carbohydrates which supplies your little one’s body with the energy it needs for physical activity and for proper organ function, helping your child perform his best in school.

Snack Mix

Prepare a trail or snack mix your toddler can munch on. In a resealable plastic bag, add cereal, raisins, baked potato chips, popcorn, dried cranberries, peanuts, banana chips, tortilla chips, chocolate chips, etc. There are so many possibilities you can experiment with.

Sweet Treats

It will not hurt if you add one or two sweets into your toddler’s lunchbox. Low-fat pudding, yogurt, Jell-o, oatmeal cookies, granola bar, a slice of cake or any sweet he likes will satisfy your toddler’s sweet tooth.

Healthy Drink

Of course, a lunchbox will not be complete without a drink. Store a bottle of water, applesauce, white or chocolate milk, orange juice or homemade lemonade to keep your toddler hydrated throughout the day.

Healthy snacks need not be boring. The key is to know what your toddler likes to eat and to pack his snacks in an appetizing way so your preschooler can come home with an empty lunchbox.

When searching for nutritious foods to serve your toddler, always start with the basics. They are accessible, easy to make, more filling and are jam packed with nutritional value. Try out these healthy kids snacks which will surely leave your toddler wanting for more.

Cereal

Go for whole grain cereals instead of cereals made from refined grains. They have less sugar content and are a better source of calcium, fiber and minerals. Try mixing it with dried fruits and nuts or add some milk and a few slices of fruits for a power-packed snack.

Cheese

A favorite dairy product of most children, cheese is the number source of calcium which is very essential in building up strong bones and teeth. Cheese is also rich in vitamin B12 that can reduce the high percentage of toddlers having anemia. Since it can burn fat, it helps prevent obesity as well.

Eggs

A good source of omega-3, regular intake of eggs help boost your toddler’s cognitive development. Choose from hard-boiled eggs, scrambled eggs or a sunny side up. An omelet sandwich is also a healthy snack, perfect for your energetic and on-the-go toddler.

Fruits

A very good substitute to sugary foods, fruits are the best snacks any toddler can munch on. Your toddler can eat countless fruits in a day, you no longer have to worry of its negative effects. Fresh fruits like apple, banana, grapes, kiwi, mango, melon and pear are good sources of fiber. Having enough supply of fiber in the body provides good cleansing of intestinal tracts which is very crucial in regulating your little one’s digestive system. Plus, it also helps avoid irregular bowel movements. Dried fruits like apricot, blueberry, cherry and raisins reduces the risk of health complications like asthma and liver cancer.

To give your toddler variety, mix low fat milk or yogurt with his favorite fruits. Fruit smoothies and homemade fruit juice are also ideal snacks. Just combine milk, a small amount of sugar and several slices of strawberries, watermelon, etc. to a blender.

Nuts

All kinds of nuts are healthy. Nuts give off healthy oils which helps strengthen your toddler’s brain cells. Encourage your little one to try out various nuts such as almonds, cashews, pistachios and walnuts. Another great alternative are pumpkin seeds. You can mix nuts and seeds together so your toddler will enjoy picking out different shapes and colors.

Peanut Butter

A versatile childhood favorite, peanut butter is undeniably a no-brainer healthy kid snack. It supplies your toddler’s body with sufficient amounts of fiber, folate, phosphorus, protein, potassium and zinc. Spice up this classic favorite by mixing it with yogurt and strawberries. Freeze it for 30 minutes to an hour for a super fun treat. Or, mix peanut butter and jelly and use waffles instead of plain loaf bread.

Quesadillas

If your toddler is tired of eating the usual healthy snacks, feed him quesadillas. This Mexican meal is stuffed with vitamins and minerals. Replace ground pork with grilled chicken strips. Add cheese, small slices of lettuce and tomatoes. Lastly, top it off with his preferred vegetable salsa dip.

Popcorn

Avoid flavored popcorn like butter and artificial cheese. Opt for plain popcorn instead. Just add a little salt and sprinkle with low-fat Parmesan cheese or mix in dried fruits (e.g. raisins, banana chips, cranberries, etc.).

Vegetables

Veggies are undeniably the most nutritious snack for toddlers. Train your toddler to eat vegetables instead of chips and chocolates. The key here is to offer various choices of veggies to your toddler. Slice vegetables like carrots, corn, celery, broccoli and potatoes into small portions. This will serve as his finger foods. Mix all of them together. Do not forget to add ranch dressing or a cheese dip for added flavor.

Yogurt

Antioxidants, calcium and fiber are only some of the nutrients your toddler’s body can get from yogurt. Stick to plain flavored low fat yogurt to steer clear from artificial ingredients. Whip up a yogurt parfait to make it tastier. Make a homemade fruit yogurt popsicle by adding berries and granola to it.

If your child belongs to the group of picky eaters, feeding him can be truly stressful. To make sure your toddler gets the right nutrition he needs, why not prepare homemade meals for him instead? Creating your very own food concoction is pretty simple even if you are not an expert cook. By doing so, you ensure he gets a lot of nutritional benefits. Plus, it might even encourage him to eat more.

Food for toddlers consist of anything tiny, colorful, sweet and tasty. With a little creativity, you can actually incorporate all of these in every food you make. To make home cooking easier for you, here are some tips as well as popular meals to help you create foods your toddler will surely love.

Know His Favorite Food

Making homemade food for your toddler will be less confusing once you figure out his food preferences. The next time he eats, keep an eye out on which food he likes to gobble the most. In this way, you are able to maximize cooking his favored food. For example, if he likes chicken, you can make a chicken sandwich, grilled chicken lollipops, vegetable salad with chicken strips and so on.

Have Variety

Just because you know he likes chicken does not mean you only have to feed him meals with chicken. Even if he prefers it over other foods, you can still encourage him to try out different foods. How? Have variety. The more you introduce new foods, the better. But, just keep in mind to serve new foods in small proportions so as not to overwhelm him. Being consistent in letting him try out various food choices will train him to eat different food selections. From breakfast to dinner, always offer a wide variety of tastes. Remember to stick to colorful and tasty meals. Avoid giving him bland food.

Here is a good example of homemade meals your toddler might like:

For Breakfast

• Whole Wheat Pancakes. Use wheat flour instead of ready to cook pancakes. Wheat flour is a natural ingredient that is rich in carbohydrates which is perfect for keeping your toddler active. To make it more interesting, why not add his favorite fruit into it. Just slice a mango, peach, blueberry or banana into tiny pieces and mix them together with the flour.
• Fresh Salad. The secret to making your toddler eat his vegetables is to cut it into tiny portions wherein he can easily use his hands to grab them. Instead of the usual cereal, slice colorful veggies and fruits (e.g. tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, lettuce, spinach, corn and some apples, lemon or orange) and mix all of them together in a bowl. Add a tasty salad dressing. The cheery color will appeal to him and intrigue him to try out the salad.

For Lunch

• Mac and Cheese. Create your very own macaroni and cheese by adding pumpkin to the ingredients. One of the most nutritional foods, pumpkins are good sources of vitamins and minerals, potassium, carotene and vitamins C and E. It has a sweet taste and its color is beautifully concealed with the cheese sauce.

For Snacks

• Cheese, Crackers or Oven Baked Potatoes. Dairy products are good for strengthening his bones. Steer clear of chips and ice cream during snack time. Instead, go for cheese and crackers. You can slice them up into tiny servings or add his favorite filling to the crackers for a yummier taste. Oven baked potatoes are healthier than French fries as well.

For Dinner

• Chicken or Fish Sticks. If your toddler will not touch his food because he dislikes using utensils, opt for finger foods like fish or chicken sticks. Slice them into thin strips or stick a popsicle stick into the chicken or fish. He will truly enjoy these tiny treats.
• Vegetable Soups. Soups are a toddler’s best friend. Most likely, your little one is willing to try out different types of soup. Each week, serve him a different soup. Mushroom, corn and broccoli soup are the most popular. Just add small strips of chicken or meat into the soup so your toddler will not find it too plain and boring.

Stay Away From Grainy Foods

When making homemade food for your child, minimize grains. Grains are too solid for his tiny stomach and this may cause indigestion. Plus, they have high sugar content that can also be found in sweets and sodas making it a useless and unhealthy homemade food.