Before you scurry out of the door to that park playdate or doctor’s appointment, you might want to add some snacks to your changing bag stash. Babies and toddlers have little bellies, which means they get hungry often. And as many parents have learned the hard way, having munchies on hand can be key for keeping children content in waiting rooms or supermarket lines. One way to help make outings happier is by stuffing your changing bag with tasty, nutritious snacks to keep your little one full and fueled for those errands. The problem is, so many easy-to-reach-for packaged nibbles skimp on nutrition. That’s where these snack ideas come in! These changing bag snacks nourish hungry tots, require minimal prep, and are super simple to stash in your tote. Keep reading for changing bag snack ideas for little ones 6 months and up!
Fresh Fruit
Packing fresh fruit for out-and-about noshes is a breeze. Whether raspberries, blueberries, or a whole banana your little one can nibble on, fresh fruits make a snack that never fails to supply good nutrition. Fresh fruit is jam-packed with many nutrients, including dietary fiber, vitamins A and C (antioxidants), and folate. Babies and toddlers can only fit so much into their tiny tummies, so making every bite count is vital. Keep it safe by giving cut-up fruit, such as halved blueberries for babies or thinly sliced apples for toddlers. Store everything in an sealed container with an ice pack to keep things chill and fresh.
Freeze-Dried Produce
When it’s snack o’clock, and you’re away from home, grabbing a bag of freeze-dried strawberries, peas, or broccoli florets can keep your tot content until it’s time to go home. Freeze-dried produce is made through a process that removes water but preserves its nutrients. It tends to have a crunchy, powder-like texture that may be fun to munch for older babies and toddlers. Avoid driving and handing nibbles to your baby or toddler to lower choking risks. Little eaters stay the safest when parents can be there to supervise them…plus, who doesn’t love snacking together as a family?
Unsweetened Applesauce Pouch
Pouches make an ideal fruit-or-veggie-laden snack when you’re whizzing about town town! Just keep in mind that while pouches get an A+ for nutrition convenience, it’s best to primarily use them while out and about. Babies and toddlers learning to feed themselves do better eating in ways that build their oral motor skills (picking food up, removing foods from the spoon, etc.), and pouches don’t allow for this.
Toasty Sticks & Hummus
By now, you may have realized that packable nibbles don’t have to be gourmet. Here’s an easy one. Toast whole grain bread and cut it into wide strips for older babies and toddlers to chomp on. This simple snack offers your baby a dose of energy from complex carbohydrates, and they reap the benefits of fiber and B vitamins. Pack your sticks with a side of hummus for another spreadable protein. (Note: New solid-food-eaters aren’t ready for toast but may do well with small soft pieces of crustless bread.)
Whole Grain Flapjacks
Flapjacks are more than a breakfast food. Make ahead a big batch of whole grain mini flapjacks using oat flour or white whole wheat flour, and store them in a freezer ziplock bag. Pull them out and pack them on your way out of the door. Or create a flapjacks snack combo using cut-up fruit for vitamins and minerals or packable nut butter for iron and healthy fats. Another option: Make a savory flapjacks snack alongside finely shredded cheese for babies or cheese cubes for toddlers. The possibilities are endless!
Root Veggie Fries
This changing bag snack takes just a little planning ahead, but we promise they’re worth the lift. Skin and cut sweet potato or carrots into sticks or fries, toss in olive oil and garlic powder, and air fry at 180 degrees Celsius for 10 to 12 minutes. You’ll have a soft, high fiber, plant-based snack suitable for your baby or toddler to nom on come snack time. Another perk? Sweet potatoes and carrots are excellent sources of carotenoids, antioxidants that help with your tot’s vision and brain.
Peanut Butter and Jam Squares
Why reinvent the wheel? We’re keeping it classic with peanut butter and jam sandwiches, which isn’t just a tried-and-true American lunch…it’s also a nutritious, filling snack on busy days. You can prepare a snack to take with you in a few minutes using whole grain bread, natural, sugar- and sodium-free peanut butter and jam (or fruit puree). Cut it into four pieces and pack it up to go. Your baby gets B vitamin-rich whole grains for energy, healthy fats for brain and eye health, and protein to keep them growing!
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