Simple, Healthy Snacks for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Toddlers and preschoolers are notoriously picky eaters. If given the choice, most young children will gravitate toward potato chips and chocolate -- not crackers and apples -- as an afternoon snack. While my 2-year-old has finicky palette, I've discovered several snacks that satisfy her sweet tooth as well as her nutritional needs. These simple, healthy snacks for toddlers and preschoolers can wow even the choosiest of children.

Whole-Grain Crackers with Cream Cheese and Fruit

My toddler loves to eat Triscuits topped with a stripe of cream cheese and a tiny dollop of apple sauce. You can also create a similar healthy snack by using a graham cracker instead of a Triscuit or neufchatel instead of cream cheese. Some of my daughter's preschool-aged friends like using raisins or slices of fresh fruit instead of apple sauce. Tailor this one to your child's own preferences. Most preschoolers can make this healthy snack with little help from Mom or Dad.

Ants on a Log

This classic favorite involves unsweetened peanut butter and raisins on a stalk of fresh celery. Ants-on-a-Log is a delicious and simple snack option for kids of all ages. Some pediatricians recommend that parents avoid giving children peanuts until 2 to 3 years of age. Parents may want to use almond butter instead of peanut butter. My toddler loves using dried cherries instead of raisins and some kids like dried blueberries. Consider turning this healthy snack into an educational opportunity. Help your preschooler count the "ants" as you place them on the "log".

Yogurt Dipping Sauce

One morning, I asked my daughter if she wanted yogurt or applesauce for breakfast. She thought for a moment and decidedly said, "I want yogurt-applesauce." Following her request, I mixed the two together and found that we had discovered a delicious dipping sauce for crackers and sliced fruit. To make this simple, healthy snack for your toddler or preschooler, mix plain or vanilla yogurt with an equal amount of applesauce, pureed strawberry or mashed banana. Unlike other sauces and dips, this one doesn't require a blender; a fork or spoon should suffice.

Toddler-Friendly Quesadilla

If you're like me, you don't feel like cooking at snack time. Fortunately, toddler-friendly quesadillas are easy to cook in the microwave and don't require much time input. To make this healthy snack, grate a small amount of your child's favorite cheese onto a small whole-grain tortilla. Then use the grater to shred bits of apple and carrot onto the quesadilla; these provide extra fiber and antioxidants and give the quesadilla a kid-friendly sweetness. Pop the snack into the microwave for a few seconds and serve as soon as it has cooled down. Your toddler or preschooler may want to pair this with salsa.