Favorite Healthy Baby Snacks

Here are some healthy baby snacks that are easy to prepare and are perfect for babies 9 months and up. Rotate through these fun and delicious ideas to keep snack time exciting and baby-approved!

Healthy Snacks for Babies (9 months and up)

I specifically mention that these snacks are for babies 9 months and older. You do not want to offer your baby snacks earlier than this age because there’s no need for them. 1-2 meals along with breastmilk and or formula is plenty.

But if your baby does start showing interest in more food on top of their milk and meals, then here are some easy and balanced ideas! 

At this age, your baby is working towards picking up small pieces of food using their pincer grasp. You can start cutting food up into bite-size pieces or keep them large so they can practice taking bites. Here are 50+ finger food ideas.

Snacks for One Year Olds

At this age, solid food takes priority over breast milk and formula. Most older babies need to eat every 2-3 hours, as their stomachs are small and they need a lot of nutrition. This equates to 3 meals + 2-3 snacks.

Here are some healthy food ideas for 1 year olds as well as a sample meal plan.

However, if your toddler eats big meals, just one snack may be enough. I wanted to share this because I felt pressured to give my son at least 2 snacks a day, as many health organizations recommend. However, I noticed that his interest during mealtimes diminished drastically.

Again, ALWAYS follow your child’s lead.

Master List of Toddler Snacks

Iron-Rich Snacks for Baby

If you’re able to offer just one food, choose one from this list

• Cooked salmon or sardines (fresh or canned) – you can serve on its own or mash and combine with yogurt or avocado. You can also spread onto toast.
• Edamame – Flatten with your fingers to split in half.
• Ground beef, chicken, or turkey crumbles
• Teether crackers with pumpkin seed butter (try this homemade teething biscuit)
• Lentil balls
• Tofu
• Pureed or mashed beans – can be as easy as flattening canned beans with your fingers. You can also spread onto toast.
• Scrambled eggs
• Hard-boiled eggs, chopped into smaller pieces
• Hummus

Baby Snacks – Fruits

Click on these links to discover step-by-step instructions for preparing and serving these foods safely and in an age-appropriate way.

• Unsweetened applesauce
• Avocado spears rolled in hemp seeds
• Banana
• Strawberries
• Kiwi
• Peaches
• Soft cooked apple with thinned out peanut butter (here are more ways to offer peanut butter to baby)
• Ripe mango spear rolled in flax seeds
• Flatted blueberries
• Baby food pouch
• Pear hummus
• Mango chia jam toast

Snacks with Vegetables

• Sweet Potato Slices
• Pureed or mashed green peas
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Vegetable oatmeal balls or fingers
• Zucchini
• Savory French toast
• Vegetable omelette
• Butternut squash
• Beet chickpea dip
• Carrot spear
• Red cabbage strip or shreds with tofu

If you want to learn how to prepare other specific food(s), check out my How To Series!

Easy Snack Recipes

Remember that your baby doesn’t need a whole lot for their snack. Start with just several bite-size pieces (or if offering as a big piece, a half of a muffin or patty).

• Baby Muffins
• Baby Cookies
• Baby Meatballs
• Healthy pancakes for babies
• Flavored yogurt
  • Banana yogurt, strawberry yogurt, blueberry yogurt, mango yogurt, peanut butter yogurt
• Mini Salmon Patties
• Sweet Potato Patties
• Veggie Nuggets

Store-Bought Baby Snacks

Here are some great convenient options. Always look at the ingredient list. The shorter the better with real ingredients, and the first 3 ingredients should be whole fruit, vegetable, or whole grains.

They should also contain no added sugars, which the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends avoiding until 2 years of age.

• Plain yogurt (without added sugars)
• Sprouted bread (this brand has one with no added salt)
• Dry cereals
• Yogurt Smoothie Melts (use code MIN5 for $5 discount)
• Baby puffs
• Peanut puffs
• Fruit or Vegetable Pouches – Regardless of the brand, look at the ingredient list and make sure all you see are whole foods. Try several and see which ones your baby enjoys and rotate through.
• Freeze-dried fruit – dissolves easily in your mouth

Top Tips for Baby Snacks

• Consider snacks as mini-meals and aim to include at least two food groups.
• If unable, make sure the one food that you do offer is an iron-rich food. Their iron needs are so high that we want to seize every opportunity to get this essential nutrient into their tummies.
• Next in priority is healthy fats, which are so crucial for optimal brain development
• Start with just a small amount and offer more if your baby seems interested. This will help reduce overwhelm and minimize food waste.
• Safety tip: ALWAYS make sure your baby is sitting upright at a 90 degree angle to minimize choking. That means no eating in the carseat or while walking around.

Frequently Asked Questions

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