Be strategic – Choose snacks wisely in order to achieve a balanced diet for your toddler or preschooler. Over the course of a day or so you should offer some starches, proteins, and fats as well as some fruits and veggies. Don’t let the labels in the grocery store limit your choices to crackers and veggie puffs. Snack time is a great time to introduce new foods and add variety to your child’s diet.
Keep it simple - Good snacks do not have require time
consuming preparation- animal crackers with some yogurt to dip in, cubed cheese
and apples, whole grain toast with butter (or peanut butter if you are giving
it), and even the occasional oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are all great
snacks. Milk is usually the snack-time beverage of choice but
if you want, it can also be the time of day when your offer your child one
serving of fruit juice.
Be predictable – Your child should always know what time of day they can expect a snack. Schedule at least two between-meal snack times into your child’s day and try to stick to the same times every day. Stop and offer food at those times whether they are fussing or not. It’s okay if they refuse as long as you have offered it. If you are at home, have your child stop what they are doing and come sit at the table. If your child is in child care find out what and at what times they are offering to your child so you can plan your family’s schedule accordingly.
Remember your role – Ellyn Satter’s “division of responsibility in feeding” principle for toddler and pre-schoolers applies to snacks just as much as meals. You the parent control the when (e.g. time of day), what (e.g. what types of foods) and where of snacking but your child controls whether or not and how much to eat. If you are having cookies for snack time put out a plate of cookies and allow them to eat as many as they want to have at that sitting. (Don’t make them finish that last bite). Some days your child may eat more at snack time then at meal time. Some days they might not eat any of the snack you offer at all. That’s just the way 99% of toddlers and preschoolers are. Don’t worry about it.
Say no to begging - If you are fulfilling your responsibilities as a parent to provide predictable appetizing snacks in adequate amounts, then you should feel free to say no to a child’s requests for food between these regularly scheduled times. Remind your child when the next scheduled opportunity to eat will be coming, change the subject but then make sure to offer food when the time comes. The first days or weeks of getting on such a schedule will likely be a bit frustrating depending on what patterns are already in place. Move at the pace you need to to make snack and meal times an enjoyable an experience as possible for all parties involved. .
