10 Healthy Toddler Snacks (Dietitian picks from Amazon!)
If you are looking for shelf stable, healthy toddler snack ideas to throw in a lunchbox or diaper bag then this is the perfect list for you. All purchased from Amazon, here are 10 dietitian picks for healthy toddler snacks that make it easy and convenient to serve your toddler more fruits, vegetables, and plants throughout the day!
*Note that the links in this blog are affiliate links meaning that I make a small commission when you buy through my links. Don’t worry, I only recommend products that I absolutely love and use in my own home. Thank you for your support!Last week, my toddler started school which means that last week, my morning routine of prepping his backpack snacks and lunches also started.
As a dietitian mom, I’m constantly looking for ways to get more colorful foods on my toddlers plate. While we excel in the carbs and protein area, even my child can fall short on fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based foods so I like to buy snack options that make it easy for me to offer him something nutritious..
While I keep his bento box lunch on an ice pack, I have found that it’s nice to have some grab and go packed toddler snack ideas on hand as well. Remember, not everything that comes in a package is automatically a “bad food” and many packaged options are delicious, nutritious, convenient, and shelf stable!
In todays blog, I’m sharing 10 packaged fruit, vegetable, and plant based snacks that I offer to my toddler and that I think would be good snack ideas for toddlers in daycare, school, or ones that are constantly on the go!.
I toss these in his lunchbox or backpack, but I also carry them around in my diaper bag for healthy snack option for both him and I! While fresh and frozen are always great, packaged options can help you feel prepared as well and can help you offer a variety of foods.
Lunchtime Bento Box
These are the bento boxes that I use for myself and my toddler! They have 5 compartments and fit perfectly into his lunchbox with a cooler pack.
How to choose a packaged fruit and vegetable?
When we first started solids, I offered my son a lot of fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables that had been thawed and then cut according to his developmental readiness. (Note: even when you are looking at this list of packaged toddler snacks, consider them against your own childs developmental readiness and choose safe options for your toddler!)
As my son got older and our days got busier with park play dates or library visits, I found that we were beginning to rely more on diaper bag snacks. While I’m not against an occasional cookie or cracker, I wanted to find healthy toddler snacks on the go that were colorful, nutritious, and just as easy to grab as a bag of cookies would be!
Luckily, there are tons of packaged fruit, vegetables, and plant-based foods on the market for you to choose from. Here are a few things I would keep in mind when choosing the best snack for toddlers:
Limit sodium: One thing to consider with packaged snacks and foods is that many of them have added sodium for flavor and preservation. Sodium does not need to be avoided at all costs for your toddler, but it’s good to be aware of their total sodium intake and choose unsalted or lower sodium options when you can.
One easy way to do this is to buy packaged snacks that have not been heavily seasoned or flavored with salty flavors. If they have been flavored, herbs and spices are great ways to add flavor without adding sodium.
Limit added sugar: One risk you run, especially with packaged fruits like dried fruits, is that many of them have been heavily sweetened with added sugar. Try to choose options that are “unsweetened” and be sure to check the food label for 0 grams of added sugar.
Sometimes you cannot avoid added sugar, but I limit the added sugar content to <4 grams for kids.
Choose 100% fruit and vegetable options: You want the fruit or vegetable to be the main if not only ingredient in these snacks! On your apple sauce, you want the ingredient to be apples. On your mango fruit bars, you want to ingredient to be mango. Look for simple ingredients that feature the fruit or vegetable FIRST.
Choose options that have been packed in water or their own juice: If you are buying fruit cups as a convenient way to offer fruit, choose cups that have been packed in their own juice or water. If you can avoid it, do not buy the options that have been packaged in heavy syrups as this adds alot of added sugar.
Consider developmental readiness: One thing to really consider as you lean in to these packaged options is your toddlers developmental readiness. Especially with some of the dried fruit options and smaller nuts or seeds, chewing and swallowing can be tougher so make sure you check the texture and offer it in a safe way.
Many of these snacks can still be cut up into smaller pieces, torn into narrow strips, or broken in to smaller chunks. Always consider your toddler when shopping off of lists like these as everyones child is different.
Alright, let’s get to some of my favorite healthy toddler snack options!
10 Fruit and Vegetable Toddler Snacks (From Amazon!)
To make my own life easier, I created an entire Amazon page that is completely dedicated to Diaper Bag and Lunchbox friendly snack ideas that you can pick through. The list is completely shelf stable and features a variety of snack or lunch options from proteins to healthy fats to shelf stable fruits and vegetables. Check out the full page:
Todays blog is solely focused on sharing some of my favorite, shelf-stable ways to include more fruits, vegetables, and plants in my toddlers diet. This list also has some good ideas for vegan and vegetarian snacks for toddlers. While there is no “one best snack for toddlers",” I do like to use my toddlers snacks to introduce colorful foods.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are always a great option, but here are 10 toddler snacks that are convenient to reach for in the morning and can sit in a lunchbox or backpack all day! These are some of my top picks but please note your own childs developmental readiness as these snacks do vary in size:
1) Solely Dried Fruit Strips (for older toddlers)
Solely Dried Fruit Bars
This is a great option for older toddlers and is 100% dried fruit with no added sugar. Some of the fruit can be tougher to chew, so be sure to cut it in a way that is appropriate for your child.
If you have a younger toddler, I would recommend starting with That’s It Bars for a dried fruit option. I think they are easier to chew and break apart.
2) Calbee Harvest Snaps
Harvest Snaps
These baked green pea snacks are a perfect chip alternative. They are a flaky baked texture, so a bit easier to crunch than a chip as well plus they’re higher in protein and fiber!
These are perfect for a lunchbox, backpack, or diaper bag and are 100% green peas that come in a variety of flavors.
3) Bare Apple Chips
Bare Apple Chips
These are currently one of my favorite toddler snacks (and for myself!) These apple chips are oven baked and perfectly sweet, satisfying both the sweet tooth craving and crunchy craving.
They are also crispy and my toddler eats them easily. You can buy a big bag here or buy individual bags that are perfect for diaper bags or backpacks!
4) Raisins (for older toddlers)
Raisins
Raisins have long been the perfect snack for toddlers that are developmentally ready to handle their smaller size. I introduced them around 18 months for my son and they are a favorite!
They are small and easy to eat, yet 100% dried fruit with no added sugar! While these are a bit of a messier option, they are finger food friendly and an easy toddler snack on the go.
5) Root Foods Vegetable Chips
Root Foods Vegetable Chips
These vegetable chips are actually vegetables, unlike some of the other “veggie chip” options that are more similar to a potato chip.
While they are salted, the first ingredients of this brand is included. There is a zucchini option currently on amazon but there are other flavors like tomato!
6) Apple Sauce Pouches
Apple Sauce Pouches
While of course you can offer apple slices as well, apple sauce is 100% apples and a convenient fruit snack that can be offered as a pouch or in a cup.
I prefer to use the pouches for his lunchbox for less mess for the teacher! They come in regular or cinnamon options.
7) That’s It Bars
7) That’s It Bars
These are one of my favorite fruit bars on the market because I think they are the easiest to break apart and are not tough to chew, making them great for kids of many ages!
They are 100% dried fruit and come in a variety of flavors and sizes that you can choose the one that works best for your child.
8) The Only Bean Roasted Edamame Beans (for older toddlers)
Roasted Edamame Beans
Roasted edamame beans are great for older toddlers and kids who like crunchy snacks. This snack is best for older kids and you should assess for developmental readiness as the edamame are small in size.
Edamame is loaded with plant based protein and fiber, making this a filling option for children and a good snack for vegetarian toddlers or vegan toddlers!
9) Freeze Dried Fruits
Freeze Dried Fruit
Yes, freeze dried fruits count as a fruit serving! I like these ones because they come in a variety of flavors, are 100% the fruit they contain, and are delicious as a snack or on top of yogurt.
10) Diced Fruit Cups
Diced Fruit Cups
As someone who grew up eating jarred peaches, I love a good fruit cup thats been packed in 100% fruit juice with no added sugars.
While the fruit cups do require a spoon, they are convenient and already chopped up. To lessen the mess, I simply drain the juice the morning of and pack these with a spoon in a lunchbox!
Fruit cups are also an easy way to introduce different kinds of fruits at a series of stages as your child grows and preferences change. Mix up your fruit cups and mix up the nutrition!
The Takeaway:
And there you have 10 healthy, shelf stable toddler snacks that you can start throwing in to a lunch box or diaper bag. As you can see, there are tons of packaged toddler snack options that are nutritious, delicious, and convenient ways to get more color into your toddlers diet!
While fresh options are great, leaning in to the convenience of frozen and shelf stable options that have been mindfully chosen can help alleviate meal and snack time stress and actually help you offer your toddler a greater variety of foods!
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Disclaimer: Please note that I am a registered dietitian but I am not YOUR registered dietitian. This information is meant to be educational and should not be used as personalized medical or nutrition advice. All opinion pieces are my own and are based off of my own education and product claims and research presented at the time the reviews were written. This blog may contain affiliate links and any purchase made through my links gives me a small commission and supports Lauren Twigge Nutrition. 
Hey! I’m Lauren
I’m a registered dietitian and my goal is to give you tips and tricks to make healthy eating fun, easy, and even delicious!