During the first year of life, babies grow and develop much faster than at any time afterward. To provide fuel for such rapid growth and development they need enough energy and nutrients. It is well-known that human beings obtain energy from food but their little tummies are too small to help them get enough energy and all the necessary nutrients at the same time.
That is why snacks between breast milk are a great solution for an active toddler. And healthy mini-meals or snacks are the perfect decision for their mothers.
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What is a healthy baby snack?
The consensus of different specialists’ opinions is that it should be safe, nutritious (contains wholesome ingredients) and tasty. All sorts of baby snacks could be divided into two groups – homemade and commercial baby snacks (mini meals from the store). Each group of snacks has its pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages.
Although a lot of moms prefer homemade snacks (including yogurt) in such snacks it is difficult to control the level of toxic and potentially harmful chemicals. And of course, to prepare healthy snacks which provide nutrients from core food groups mothers have to spend a lot of time or ask somebody for help.
Particularly time-consuming is the process of preparing for kids without teeth because of the texture of the food.
Commercial baby foods (parents can order them through the internet or buy in a store) are under strict control all the time and the group of specialists working on their preparation assures that the quality of the snacks is extremely high. So the best decision for many caring moms is to use both variants to provide the profitable variety.
Reasons for snacking
Snacks for kids are considered a significant part of daily nutrition. Due to snacks, the high nutritional requirements of toddlers are supported. These mid-meals help to ‘top-up’ daily intake and as a result, meet the increasing nutritional needs of a child.
Besides the nutritional reason, there is a learning role. Snacking is a great opportunity to practice basic eating skills as well as to explore a new texture and taste (including a naturally sweet taste).
Moreover, snack time can be a key point in studying the concept of food sharing with the nearest and dearest. Furthermore, healthy baby snacks help to cultivate healthy eating habits, preventing a lot of medical problems in the future.
Best snack time
Depending on the age of the toddler and his eating routine it is a good idea to plan re-fuelling pitstops right in-between structured meals. The best place for such a pause with an apple or puffs is of course a kitchen to acknowledge the special time to eat. But to avoid misunderstandings with the structured meals, these pitstops should be short enough to get the clues. For young eaters, it is important to be sat upright and to have a supported position that provides necessary safety and comfort.
Volume and serving
Understanding a snack as a type of ‘mini-meal’ helps moms to identify the volume or amount of foods given in other words start small and move on gradually. Nutritionists emphasize that each snack should be a source of nutrients from at least two different food groups, for example, a banana or an apple with yogurt as a good source of protein and puffs. In particular, the intake of carbs should be under strict control even if the taste is not sweet enough for the mom :).
As for the texture of the mid-meal finger foods, boiled or steamed veggies are considered the best decision, and divided plates seem to be created especially for baby snacks to provide the variety and to teach them how to make choices or treat themselves with diversity.
Best healthy snacks
With snacks as a necessary and sufficient addition to structured meals and food boosting vitamins and minerals intake as well as energy for a baby, it is prudent to provide your toddler with recipes that use ingredients from core groups, so that while snacking they can eat fruit (an apple or banana), cereal, dairy products (yogurt, milk), lean meat, veggies, and poultry, as well as packed-up with protein eggs or legumes.
Carefully planning a well-balanced diet, including breast milk or baby formula and baby snacks, is a general rule of thumb. Among the best snacks for kids of any age are fruit and crudités. However, a plain yogurt with an apple or banana puree, steamed green peas, whole grains, and cottage cheese are not only delicious but also very nutritious.
Safety as the priority
Speaking about babies’ snacks, it is necessary to emphasize that safety is the main but not the only limiting factor for usage. Healthy snacks should be safe for the health of kids of any age including toddlers. Store-provided baby snacks, like all baby food, are subject to strict regulation and control, but to be certain, look for organic snacks, and there is no need for concern or uneasiness.
Ideal and safe baby snacks are easily digested, low sugar, gluten-free, without added salt, and guaranteed to contain no preservatives or potentially harmful chemicals.
Food to avoid
Because of different types of dangers to the baby’s health according to the CDC up to 12 months, it is important to avoid in the well-balanced diet of infants such food and drinks as:
- caffeinated beverages
- 100% juice
- cow’s milk
- sugar-sweetened drinks
- foods that are high in salt
- product with added sugar
- sheer honey.
As all ingredients in a baby's diet contain natural salt and sugar, there is no need to add these additives intentionally.
Toxic ingredients in baby’s snacks
When it comes to toxins toddler has no defense to protect himself from the contamination. The problem is that even homemade yummy baby snacks can’t be 100 percent safe because the main ingredients may contain such amounts of toxins and heavy metals which babies’ organisms are vulnerable to. That is why it is highly recommended to follow the next steps to prevent the babies’ exposure to heavy metals from their food.
Among the main tips:
- check the water the babies drink and baby food is prepared on;
- provide babies with a wide variety of natural food preferably those having natural colors;
- limit rice products because arsenic is naturally found in them, excessive consumption can result in diabetes, developmental issues, and a wide range of nervous system damage;
- try to vary the cereal and grains to limit the possible intake of heavy metals (choose a variety pack in a store);
- stay clear of long-living or predatory fish because they can contain a threatening amount of mercury;
- supervise snacking as well as a structured daily meal.
Organic snacks are tested for heavy metals and other toxins beginning with the selection of ingredients prior to the preparation process and continuing through the retailing of finished products, including thorough checking and tasting at each stage of manufacturing. Organizations that certify baby food and baby products pay exceptional attention to the risks of toxins and heavy metal exposure. That is why a label ‘organic’ can ensure parents that the food their babies eat is healthy and contains no potential harm.
Baby fruit snacks
For us, adults, tasty and yummy food means mainly sweet or salty ones. Our bad eating habits are the reason. Nutritionists are sure that fruit contains enough amount of natural sugar to meet the needs of energy for children of all age groups so added sugar is not necessary and even harmful.
Packed with vitamins, microelements and other essential nutrients fruit as a snack is of great value in the well-balanced baby diet. Due to fruit and veggies, it is easy to maintain a steady level of blood glucose so active babies and toddlers never run out of biofuel.
To satisfy young explores in their texture and shape research curiosity parents can offer not only bite-size chunks but also any seasonal fruit sliced nicely or perfectly cube cut. Recipes for veggies and fruit mixtures are available and they could be stored in a pack to protect from the oxygen of the air.
Thinking about fruit and veggies recipes be aware of choking hazard that can be caused by hard fruit or raw vegetables, so again, the key rule of safe snacking is to supervise a baby along with each snack time or mini meal break.
Baby puff snacks
A pack of dry o cereal is considered the most popular type of baby snack and finger food. Puffs and O-shaped give great opportunities to perfect the pincer grasp. Besides, they mix well with the baby’s saliva and are safe enough in terms of choking hazard.
But just to remind these puffs are made of rice and rice is potentially contaminated with arsenic and other heavy metals.
To prevent possible harm from the tasty puff snacks, it is better to choose those with the label ‘organic’ and, of course, always favor variety over a monotonous diet.
What snacks can I give my 6-month-old?
As soon as the baby starts to chew on his gums, shows interest in adult food and tries to eat himself it can be a sign of the beginning of snack time. At first, snacks are available only one time a day, the amount of food should be increased gradually from the pinch to the volume of the baby’s clenched wrist.
Speaking about finger foods it is necessary to mention that ability to start getting to know more advanced texture can be discussed only after the toddler achieve the next motor skills:
- use fingers to grasp foods;
- use hands to move food towards the baby's mouth;
- sit up straight during the meal.
An ideal introduction to finger food can be cooked vegetable sticks and added sugar-free and gluten-free rusks.
The rule of thumb is to introduce only one new type of snack at a time. It will help to identify the food the baby is allergic to and to eliminate it causing no harm to the health of the baby.
Up to 9 months, the kids' snack menu can be enlarged and diversified.
What are good snacks for a 1-year-old?
According to the specialists from Michigan State University, a key concept of how to eat well for a 1-year-old kid is keeping foods on hand from each food group of My Plate and letting your beloved enjoys each bite of the snack.
As a snack for the child after 12 months each of the samples from the list below is suitable:
- sweet potato or sweet potato powder;
- baby puffs (don't forget about variety pack);
- whole-grain bread with cream cheese (to combine carbs with protein);
- steamed green beans;
- shredded cheese (a great source of protein);
- low fat and sugar-free yogurt;
- a banana;
- low-fat dairy products if there is no need for dairy-free diet;
- an apple;
- shakes with low-fat milk
Travel together snacking healthy
Traveling with a baby is a great adventure and a big fun if you plan and prepare everything beforehand. Whether the baby is breastfeeding or his main meals consists of baby formula right snacks are must-haves to make every journey full of happy smiles and nutritiously sufficient.
The top priority in each trip with the baby either a city break or a countryside escape is the safety for him and his health. So parents should plan everything thoroughly up to small details.
Although homemade snacks are usually unavailable a sugar-free baby yogurt and a banana can be bought in every local store. Just in case in the diaper bag should be some organic baby rusks, fruity rings, several fruit and vegetable bars, and of course a few favorite pouches to not seek out.
Summing up
Nutritious snack for a baby is not only a perfect way to implement healthy eating habits it is also the best trick to present different types of solid food, provide your baby with sugar-free samples of all food groups.
It is very important to consult the pediatrician before starting feeding your 6 or 9 months baby with wholesome ingredients of super handy solid food and it is compulsory to supervise even older toddlers while offering homemade or store-bought snacks.
Planning and preparing solid foods in advance can save time and create an opportunity to ensure a wide range of nutrients including vitamins and minerals in the baby’s everyday menu.
What is more important most babies enjoy the time they spend with their family around the table. When parents serve baby with great finger food and eat veggies or a banana or puffs from the pack or the divided plate together in their minds ingrains the meaning of the expression ‘happy family’.
source https://organicsbestshop.com/blogs/organicsbestclub/baby-snacks-best-healthy-and-nutritious-options
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