Infant and Toddler Snacks - Healthy or Gimmick?

The topic of this article is the abundance of commercial snacks marketed for infants and toddlers. Little ones need to have snacks, usually one or two a day. I advocate considering snacks as a mini-meal or a smaller version of the food you would serve at a meal. Here is information that may make you think twice about what you buy, and give you healthier options.

Mom shopping for snacks...so many to choose from!

As with many commercial and processed foods, marketing tactics convince us these are healthy choices. However, reading labels tells us otherwise. Often, foods marketed for children, as we see in cereals, have added sugar, which is listed in many forms. The FDA now requires manufacturers to show the amount of added sugar in a product. Sweeteners have many different names, which sound better than sugar or sucrose. In fact, there are at least 60 names for sweeteners on labels!

This is a partial list of sugar synonyms to look for:

Any word with sugar - brown, beet, cane, coconut, confectioners, powdered, turbinado sugars, etc.

Agave

Honey

High-fructose corn syrup

Corn syrup solids

Evaporated cane juice

Fruit juice concentrate

Glucose syrup solids

Maple syrup

Molasses

Malt

Maltodextrin

Any sugar names ending in -ose:

Dextrose, fructose, galactose, glucose, lactose, maltose, sucrose, sucralose

Sugar alcohols ending in -itol

Erythritol, lactitol, maltitol, sorbitol, xylitol

Sweeteners like stevia, aspartame, sucralose, and acesulfame potassium

This is just a partial list! Sugars are added in so many different forms and with so many names that they make them hard to identify.

Should any of the above appear in the first three ingredients... leave it on the shelf.

Or, look for the grams of added sugar under total sugars.

The FDA requires that added sugars be listed on food labels.

Most granola bars are full of sweeteners.

Veggie chips lack fiber and protein and have very little vegetable content.

Fruit snacks have no fiber or protein and are loaded with sugar.

Toddler yogurts are full of sugar and other additives.

Plain Greek yogurt with your own fruit or crunchies is healthier. Although there are no-added-sugar brands of yogurt, these tend to be more expensive and not any different from regular Greek yogurt.

There are a few commercial products that do provide wholesome snack foods for little ones, but realize you are paying for the gimmick that there really are foods specific for toddlers.

THIS IS A MARKETING PLOY - toddlers can eat what adults eat.

Prepackaged snacks are convenient when you need something on the go, but you can make your own packaged snacks. Read below for ideas.

Making snacks with the food you eat and have at home is less expensive. This is also healthier, without as many additives and preservatives.

A snack tray with individual healthy snacks which is easily made from food you have at home.

Use snack time as a way to offer more fruit and vegetables.

Here are some items to keep on hand:,

• Hummus

• Cottage cheese

• String cheese

• Nut butter with veggie sticks or whole-grain crackers

• Soft fruit -bananas, avocado, mandarin oranges, or canned fruit packed in water (not syrup)

• Greek yogurt

• Avocado and guacamole

• Air fryer sweet potato wedges

• Homemade fruit and veggie muffins

• Whole wheat crackers

• Whole grain cheerios

• Corn tortillas with melted cheese

• Rice cakes

• Boiled eggs

• Pita bread

• Freeze-dried fruit

Various toast snacks with fruit, nut butters, and cottage cheese provide a wholesome snack.

My best guidance is to look at labels - check for total and added sugars, saturated fat, and salt content. Look at the length of the ingredient list. The fewer the ingredients, the better. Any sweeteners should not be listed high in the ingredient list (top 3-5) since these are listed in decreasing concentration.

Just because something says "no added sugar" does not mean it is low in sugar. Check for the number of additives, preservatives, and colorants to see if the item is loaded with chemicals.

Once you start reading labels, you learn that you can feed your child healthier than food manufacturers try to convince you. You quickly realize that toddler snacks are more gimmick!