Have you ever noticed that small children and older babies are such snacking machines? My little one is always asking for snacks…even after she’s just eaten something! But it’s important to fuel their little busy bodies with proper nutrition. It can also keep them from being grumpy. You’re just asking for it if you leave the house without a stash of snacks in your bag.
Not sure what’s the best way to handle snacking with your little one? Keep these snacking tips in mind to help you give your child the very best.
Balance is key
While the occasional serving of chips or cookies is nothing to worry about, making it a habit certainly is. Pick snacks that give a nice balance of the food groups, like fruits and cut up veggies for example. If you need something good on the go, portion out healthier options into zipper baggies to take along with you. Make your baked goods yourself and they will be healthier than those store-bought snack packs of mini-muffins.
Control portion size
If you give too many snacks to your child, don’t be surprised when she turns down lunch or dinner, even if it’s something she normally gobbles up. Would YOU be hungry for a meal if you just ate a banana, some cubes of cheese, and cookies with a glass of milk? Of course not! And your child’s stomach is much smaller than yours. If your child is still nursing or drinking formula, you can give her some of these things along with a healthy snack to help her feel satiated until the next meal.
Watch the clock
Snacks should ideally be served in the mid-point between meals. Every 2 to 3 hours is a good way to go about it. If your child keeps persisting for more snacks, try to distract her with something else.
Look for cues
Because every child is different, you can’t simply rely on clock-watching. You’ll need to pay attention to your child’s hunger cues. Sometimes our kids don’t want to eat because they’re just not hungry at that time. Don’t force food on them. They will eat when they are hungry.
Offer choices
When my youngest comes up and asks for a snack, I can ask her all day what she wants and she’ll just yell, “Snack!” Listing everything we have in the house is pointless. But if I give her a choice of 2 items when she comes up to me and asks for a snack, she seems thrilled to be getting a chance to choose. “Do you want an apple or some strawberries?” This gets a much better response and usually results in your child eating what she’s asked for instead of mashing it into your rugs.
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