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    MJ & Hungryman » Feeding tips » Toddler Snacking All Day Long: Here's Help

    Toddler Snacking All Day Long: Here's Help

    By Min On June 21, 2022

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.

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    my child only wants snacks

    Help! My toddler only wants to snack all day long and refuses to eat meals! Here are some effective strategies for ending mealtime battles and raising healthy kids.

    Jump to:
    • Constant Toddler Snacking
    • Toddler not eating their meals
    • Snacks help avoid meltdowns
    • Snacks are exciting
    • Snacking on the go
    • Easy Snack Ideas for Toddlers
    • More Snack Recipes for Toddlers

    Constant Toddler Snacking

    Snacks can absolutely (and should) be a healthy part of a child’s diet. Their small stomachs coupled with their high-energy mean they need to be eating often.

    However, snacking all day long will not only ruin their mealtime appetites but start a vicious cycle and unhealthy habits that can be hard to break the longer they go on.

    Listed below are the top reasons why you may be finding it difficult to break out of the constant grazing and what you can do to make the necessary shift toward structured eating.

    Toddler not eating their meals

    And so you find yourself offering snacks throughout the day because you’re worried they won’t get the nutrition they need to grow and thrive.

    Totally understandable, especially if your child is underweight.

    However, grazing all day long may be one of the main reasons why your child isn’t eating during mealtimes. And for fussy eaters, this can make things worse.

    If they don’t come to the table hungry, they’re less likely to try new/disliked foods or any food for that matter.

    All this to say, unstructured snacking can lead to mealtime battles, picky eating, and poor nutrition.

    Is your toddler becoming picky?

    Arm yourself with these strategies that will transform your mealtimes!
    YES, PLEASE!

    What to do:

    I know as parents, we want our kids to be fed. And fed well! But here's a gentle yet powerful reminder. It’s OK to let them get hungry! In fact, it’s encouraged. That will be an incredible driving force in encouraging them to eat a full, nutritious meal.

    Schedule meals and snacks at regular intervals throughout the day.

    And teach your child from early on that the kitchen is closed outside of those times. So next time you find yourself handing over a snack on demand, remember! You are in charge of WHAT and WHEN food will be served.

    How many snacks do toddles need?

    Most toddlers need to eat 3 meals plus 2-3 snacks spaced 2-3 hours apart (older children can go longer).

    It's so important to set an eating schedule that works best for your family and stay consistent. You can be flexible but don’t want to be too loose.

    Also, remember that every child is different. My 4 year old son has never been much of a snacker and is perfectly fine with 3 meals and one snack. Yours might need one in between each meal. Find a feeding structure that works for you.

    Here's our past and current mealtime schedules to help get you started. Having a consistent and predictable eating schedule makes all the difference!

    Children thrive on routine and predictability so let's give it to them!

    But what if my child doesn't eat dinner?

    This is a common dilemma for many families. A lot of times what ends up happening is that parents will resort to offering different foods from what was initially served because they don't want their child to go to bed hungry. I can totally relate!

    However, toddlers catch on quick! They will learn that if they refuse their dinner, they will get what they want, and the cycle continues.

    If your child is constantly refusing dinner, it may be helpful to incorporate into your routine a bedtime snack at least 30 minutes after. Here are some strategies and specific guidance on how to handle dinner refusal.

    Snacks help avoid meltdowns

    Your child may be chasing you around all day long demanding snacks out of boredom or as a way of dealing with various emotions like frustration and sadness.

    And while it's easy to give in so you can have some peace and quiet to yourself, it puts you in a position where your child is running the show.

    Also, when food becomes a source of distraction, it can lead to mindless eating. Your child is not focusing on their food, which most likely will interfere with their innate ability to regulate food intake and discourage them from listening to their own hunger/fullness cues.

    Your child may end up over or in some cases, under-eating.

    What to do:

    Consider your mealtime schedule and your child's intake throughout the day. If it's been over 2 hours and your child didn't eat much during their previous mealtime, then they truly may be hungry. In this case offer a well-balanced snack.

    Otherwise, gently but firmly remind your child that it's not snack time and that they will get to eat soon. You can shift the focus by engaging them in other activities, like reading, going outside, etc.

    Snacks are exciting

    Kids typically prefer snacks over meals, and it gets even more exciting if they are used to getting the typical packaged "snack foods," such as crackers, cookies, granola bars, etc.

    So they start holding out for these snacks and not eating their meals.

    It's unrealistic to say no to serving these foods entirely, nor should you! It's all about balance and moderation. Again, remember that you are in charge of WHAT and WHEN of feeding.

    Related: How to handle sugar with toddlers and kids

    What to do

    • Rethink snacks! Don’t let the crackers, cereals, etc. be the ONLY foods you serve. This will most likely lead to your child eating less of their meals to save room for these “special” foods. So Mix it up! ⁠
    • Consider snacks as mini-meals. Aim to serve the same kinds of foods you’d serve at mealtimes, just in smaller portions. Be sure to check out these snack tray ideas for inspiration!
    • Serve at least 2 food groups - protein/fat AND fruits/vegetables/whole grains. This will help keep your child fuller and more satisfied until the next meal time.

    Master List of Healthy Snacks for Toddlers

    Snacking on the go

    Following a mealtime schedule and having structure may be very challenging if you are on the go all the time. So you abandon it altogether.

    This may be an easier solution in the moment, but in the long run, it will make it much more difficult to establish good eating habits.

    Not to mention, eating whenever and wherever will inevitably send the message to your child that sitting down and eating together is not important.

    What to do:

    This is when time management becomes really important.

    • Prioritize your eating schedule. Again, you don't have to be super strict with it. Allow wiggle room and try to keep meals/snacks within a 30-minute time frame around the usual time.
    • Do not offer snacks in the car seat, stroller, etc. Try your best to put a pause in action to sit down and enjoy a snack together.
    • And if you're so busy that you can't stop to make this happen, perhaps it's time for you to re-evaluate your routine. Don't be afraid to make changes to your mealtime schedule. For instance, perhaps moving up your dinner time and adding a bedtime snack may work better for your child and family.
    • ⁠Don't overpack. Instead of turning your bag into a portable snack drawer, only carry 1-2 emergency snacks in your bag so you are not tempted to hand them snacks when things go south.

    Also check out: On-the-go or travel snacks

    Easy Snack Ideas for Toddlers

    Here are actual examples of what I served to my children. When I am putting together snacks, I consider:

    • What leftovers can I repurpose?
    • Is there some type of protein and or fat?
    • Is there a snack food that they seem to be fixated on? If so, let's include it!
    four examples of smart snacks
    six examples of smart snacks including vegetables with beet hummus, yogurt with blueberries and cereal, leftovers from lunch

    Specific ideas:

    • Overnight oats or quinoa
    • Yogurt parfait - with blueberries, grated carrots, and dried cereal
    • Toasts - Go beyond peanut butter and jelly with these unique and easy topping suggestions.
    • Sliced apples and cheese
    • Hard-boiled egg with steam roasted veggies and cheese crackers
    • Banana with peanut, nut, or seed butter
    • beet hummus with red bell peppers, cucumber, and tortilla
    • Cookie + milk or kefir
    • Pancake sandwich + fruit
    • Savory oatmeal with chopped zucchini and melted cheese
    • Whole grain crackers and carrots with hummus
    • Banana toppings bar or roll ups
    • Graham crackers with strawberries and peanut butter
    • A small portion of leftover dinner + chocolate
    • Snack tray with an assortment of whatever you have on hand - cheese, veggies, fruit, avocado, beans, etc. It can be a random hodgepodge and your child will love it!
    • Smoothies
      • You can find a basic formula for making ANY veggie-loaded smoothies in my Veggie-Centered Delights cookbook
      • Make it thicker and enjoy with a spoon - Carrot Cake Oatmeal smoothie bowl
      • Green smoothies

    Note: be sure to pay attention to drinks. Milk and fruit juices are very filling. If your child is thirsty between meals, offer water. Limit juice to 6 ounces/day and milk to 16 ounces/day.

    More Snack Recipes for Toddlers

    Here are some simple recipes you might be interested in making for your toddler and yourself!

    Master List of Healthy baby and toddler muffins

    English muffin baby pizza (with vegetables)
    English muffin pizza is a super fun and delicious way to encourage even the pickiest eater to eat their vegetables! And if you're looking for a safe and healthy baby pizza recipe, step right up!
    Get the recipe
    four cooked english pizza muffin with one of them sliced into three strips
    Baby Banana Pancakes (with protein)
    Made in a blender with just a few ingredients, these banana pancakes for babies and toddlers make for a delicious and filling snack or meal. Fluffy and moist, if you are looking for a baby led weaning pancakes recipe, this is it!
    Get the recipe
    baby friendly banana protein pancakes spread out on a blue plate with berries and peanut butter
    Banana Overnight Oats
    These banana overnight oats are a perfect make ahead breakfast or snack option for babies, kids, and adults alike!
    Get the recipe
    overnight oats with sliced banana, ground walnuts in a bowl.
    Baked Veggie Nuggets
    These baked veggie nuggets are an easy and fun way to get more vegetables into your child's diet! Made with four vegetables, they are perfect for lunch or snack!
    Get the recipe
    A toddler's hand dipping one of the nuggets in beet hummus.
    Pumpkin Oatmeal Bars with Lentils
    These pumpkin oatmeal bars with lentils are high in protein and low in sugar. A healthy no fuss breakfast or snack for your baby and toddler.
    Get the recipe
    a close up shot of sliced bars
    Spinach Pancakes
    These green baby pancakes are super easy to make, healthy, and the perfect finger food for baby led weaning.
    Get the recipe
    stacked spinach baby pancakes
    Single Serve Chia Puddings for Babies and Kids
    Single serve chia seed pudding for babies 6 months and up is the perfect make ahead breakfast or snack that you can whip up in under 5 minutes!
    Get the recipe
    collage of six puddings
    Peanut Butter Chickpea Cookies
    Made without flour and sugar, these peanut butter chickpea cookies are so easy to make with just 5 ingredients.
    Get the recipe
    Baked cookie with a bite taken out of it.
    Healthy Banana Recipes for Babies and Kids
    Transform plain ol' banana with these super fun and easy breakfast or snack ideas that you can make with your child!
    Get the recipe
    four banana roll ups with zucchini.
    Vegetable baby French toast
    This savory baby vegetable French toast or eggy bread is an EASY and fun way to use up leftovers. Suitable for babies 6 months and up!
    Get the recipe
    A close up shot of baby French toast strips as well as bite-sized pieces on a parchment paper

    My 1st e-cookbook - Baby Led Weaning Beginner Bites - Introducing Top Allergen Foods - has a ton of finger-friendly, freezer-friendly veggie-forward recipes that your baby, toddlers, and older children will enjoy!

    front cover page and table of contents for my first ecookbook baby led weaning

    I truly hope this is helpful! Happy sancking 😉

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    About Min

    Thank you so much for stopping by! I am Min, a Registered Dietitian, a Christ follower, a wife, and a mom to our two miracle babies! Currently, I’m having a ton of fun feeding their tummies and sharing our baby led weaning journey! Follow me on Instagram if interested in seeing daily menu as well as tips and tricks.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Labrie says

      June 21, 2022 at 6:10 pm

      Your blog greatly influenced my decision on how I feed my child. As soon as he started daycare he was too tired and full from the day meals to eat dinner. So I started packing him our family dinner for his afternoon snack. It gives me peace of mind knowing he's getting a variety of healthy food in his diet this way.
      I also use to do the timed snacks but we've struggled so much with food. So when my baby wants to eat even if it means all morning long I do. But I do follow the rule of all snacks being very healthy or like mini meals. He's also very tiny for his age so I follow his hunger cues.

      Reply
      • Min says

        June 21, 2022 at 8:05 pm

        Love that you are following his hunger cues. Have you read my "how to help your underweight child" post? If not, hope it will be helpful as well!

        Reply
    2. Jo says

      June 21, 2022 at 2:06 pm

      Going through this exact problem at the moment with my toddler so this is super helpful! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Min says

        June 21, 2022 at 2:59 pm

        I'm so glad that it's helpful!! Hang in there mama!!

        Reply
    3. Kavitha says

      November 07, 2019 at 12:29 am

      Loved this post ! Thank you for all the information and photos of what snacks look like

      Reply
      • Min says

        November 07, 2019 at 9:14 am

        you're very welcome! Glad you found this helpful! 😉

        Reply

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    I am MJ, a registered dietitian and a mom of 2. I truly hope you’ll enjoy all the recipes and tips that I share on what and how to feed your child!

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