Creative and healthy toddler meals and snacks - share your ideas!!!

[chitownmelli]

I really like to make healthy meals and snacks for the daycare children, it's even more fun when you have a neat way to present them. What are some of your children's favorite healthy and maybe even fun snacks???

Here is one that we made yesterday that I am really proud of. LO helped make it, this is our "rainbow fruit." I was on a rainbow fruit kick yesterday, I even sent DH a rainbow of fruit in his lunch - arranged a little differently though lol!

[Doryjane]

lol I just posted a ROAK wanting something similar to this , Thanks!!

[chitownmelli]

I saw your ROAK and I was just about to PM you in fact, to let you know I posted something to help you get more ideas lol!!!!!!

[chitownmelli]

Today's fun snack is watermelon dolphins on the blue ocean plate, grape "bubbles" and mango "spongebobs." :)

[OneHotMomma]

My kids like "banana splits." We cut up a banana and top it with yogurt, granola, and fruit so that it looks like an ice cream one without all the sugar.

Frozen grapes are good too, just be sure to cut them up before you freeze them for the little ones.

[chitownmelli]

I haven't done frozen grapes with this little one, she has been known to find creative ways to choke on food lol!

That is such a good idea with the "banana splits" might have to try that one!!!

[CouponQueen23]

Pancake w/ faces with fruit

Number or Letter drizzled pancakes with fruit arranged around each.

Cookie cutter sandwiches I love 's for valentines day celery or fruit along the side depending on the sandwiches.

[3timesoccermom]

Awww, this reminds me of when my girls were little and I'd do that sort of thing for them. Melli you clearly understand we eat with our eyes too and the colorful dishes add so much to the overall presentation.

Not sure if she's old enough yet but maybe fruit kabobs for a luau type theme - you can thread strawberries, grapes, pineapple chunks, mini marshmallows, apple, pear, melon (when in season), etc. onto one of those short wooden skewers.

A simple fruit salad served in a pretty bowl is always good. I used to make this quick and easy one a lot - start with a can of pineapple chunks in juice, add some mandarin oranges, sliced banana and Maraschino cherries. If you pour some of the juice from the cherries in it will make the juice a pretty, light pink. Of course you can add whatever else you have on hand. I like to put raisins in because they soften up and I think it makes a nice contrast but the girls don't like them.

A vegetable "sunflower" would be cute - a piece of celery for the stem, some carrot sticks for the petals on the flower, some raisins in the middle for the seeds . . . I'm sure you could do the same with varying fruits.

Does she like cheese cubes?

Grilled cheese sandwiches (I always used 2 pieces of cheese) with some ham inside cut into cute shapes.

Peanut butter mixed with honey and some wheat germ on graham crackers makes a high-protein healthy snack and you can also dip apples into it.

There's an older thread with a similar name on here somewhere - you will probably find some good ideas there too.

[momof2inohio]

Saw this on pinterest and thought it was so cute!!
BentOnBetterLunches: Sea, how cute!

Wish my kids were still little and I could make it for them!!

[chitownmelli]

Ooooh! Baby bentos!!! I send my DH a bento almost every day. No hot dog octopus in his lunch though lol!