Adding color and fun to toddler meals

Parents are constantly worried about how little their toddlers
eat. It just never seems to be enough. What they don’t realize is that toddlers have very small
stomachs, which fill up very quickly. One way to deal with this is have them eat more frequent
meals.

Weaning toddlers off to the snack table is no easy task, as every parent knows. What
they can do, however, is make eating a fun experience by adding lots of taste and variety in their
diet.

Here’s how you can fix quick and healthy ‘nibble trays’ for your
toddlers:

• Buy cheeses with no added color. String cheese can make great snack
  food
• Give them plain, unsweetened yogurt and top it with fresh fruit and add a bit of sugar
  on top
• Dried fruits are great to munch on and a healthier choice than natural fruits. Try
  sprinkling them over a banana mash
• Serving peanut butter and mayo dips is a great way
  to get your toddlers eating their veggies
• Stick some tortilla chips and salsa sauce
  over mashed avocados. Kids love this treat

There are many snacks that parents can
invent and serve with joy and relish to their young ones. At the same time, make sure unhealthy
additives are avoided. These are:

• Trans fats: hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils
  
• MSG
• The preservatives BHA and BHT
• Artificial colors
  
• Artificial sweeteners