5 Yummy Vegetarian Snacks For A Toddler

The nation is getting rounder and rounder. As the world is getting into the food culture, and shows like Man vs. Food in the Travel Channel permeate the consciousness, I can’t help but be alarmed of the world my five year-old Isabel is fast joining. Childhood obesity is one of the most easily recognizable and preventable diseases in the world, but 16 to 33 percent of American children[1] and adolescents are suffering from it. The same disease accounts for 30,000 deaths in the country per year.

This is why our family has adopted a semi-vegetarian lifestyle. Eating organically and locally grown vegetables and staying away from the fast food binge culture that has swept the nation have us breathing and sleeping better. Our Isabel loves her veggies unlike most of her peers, as she sees most of those around her love the same things. From her birth to the present, I have tried to be as healthy as possible when it comes to meals at home and outside. Although this may mean we take a little more effort in cooking or going out, our bodies definitely feel lighter and better than ever.

Try these 5 vegetarian snacks for your toddler that proved successful for our own Isa:

1. Fruit slices

Fresh fruit slices straight from the fridge are the best things for your toddler to snack on. Store fruits in the refrigerator often, ready to slice. It is best that you keep them unsliced until right before you eat them to prevent loss of vitamins, flavor and texture.

Fruit snacks are packed with vitamins and minerals that will keep your child naturally energized all day. Vary your choices to prevent your child from getting bored, and try unusual ones to expand her palate. Child not interested? Try cutting fruits into different shapes and letting your child create a “face” with grapes as eyes, a strawberry for a nose, and a banana for a wide grin. This will introduce a fun way to eat, and will encourage his/her creativity.

2. Homemade nut butters

We got this recipe from Bowlofplenty.blogspot.com for a delicious almond butter:

INGREDIENTS: 286 g or 10 oz (2 cups) of raw almonds with skins

EQUIPMENT: Weighing scale or a dry-ingredient measuring cup, Food processor, fitted with steel blade, Rubber spatula, Canning funnel, Glass or plastic jar, 10 fl. oz. (300 ml) or larger in capacity

INSTRUCTIONS: Once the almonds are at room temperature, place them into the workbowl of the food processor and process for 6 minutes or until the consistency is smooth. Stop the machine a few times to scrape down the sides of the bowl if needed. Raw almonds will need between 12 to 15 minutes of processing time. With a rubber spatula, scrape the almond butter from the workbowl into a jar. A canning funnel fitted over the jar will minimize messy drips and spills.

Note: Homemade almond butter should be refrigerated, and you should keep it there for no more than four months. This is to prevent (or delay) the oil from going rancid. If you need longer storage, freeze it.

Almond, walnut or macadamia nut butters are delicious, healthier versions of the popular peanut butter, and are wonderful to spread on bread or crackers if your child has no nut allergies. You can also combine with fruit jam or jellies for that more child-friendly combination!

3. Vegetable slices

Like its fruit counterpart, raw, clean vegetables are fun snacks that are handy when your child needs to munch on something. Try carrots or celery for raw options, or bake broccoli, sweet potatoes or artichoke hearts in an oven for 15 minutes with a bit of olive oil. Wholly better than potato chips, these snacks are yummy and healthy.

4. Soy yogurts

The vegetarian answer to the yogurt fad, soy yogurts are a bit sweeter and less tart than the normal yogurts, but still have the same live cultures that aid digestion and are altogether good for your children. Here is a recipe from Fat Free Vegan on making your own, or you can buy soy yogurt from your health food store.

5. Pure juice ice lollipops

Image source: http://www.make-your-own-baby-stuff.com

Take your child’s favorite 100 percent juice drink and freeze them into fun-shaped molds available at groceries or cooking supply stores. Instead of creamsicles or popsicles that are full of sugar and empty on vitamins, just take your own spin and freeze fruit juice combos or even pop their favorite fruits in season then freeze. You can even come up with new flavors with your toddler!

Children can be saved from childhood obesity when good eating habits are instilled at a young age. Try these snacks on your toddler to start their diets right!

This guest blog post was written by proud WAHM (work at home mom) Kristen Swope, who does freelance writing about everything from swimming pools to home lighting. She devotes most of her quality time to taking care of her five-year-old daughter Isabel, and being a loving companion to husband John. She lives in Fremont, California in a house with a kidney-shaped swimming pool.

Bon Appetit,
Elle

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[1] Childhood Obesity Statistics and Trends. Stop Childhood Obesity. January 1, 2011. <http://www.stop-childhood-obesity.com/childhood-obesity-statistics.html>