Semi-OT: Snacks for kids....

January 13, 2006

Ok, it's happened -- BOTH of my toddlers are in a growth spurt. My

daughter, who turns 4 in a few weeks, has been hungry virtually non-stop for

the last week or two. She eats a little at every meal (or on occasion a

lot) and keeps wanting to eat throughout the day. My boy (2yo), is taking

cues from her.

Their primary favorites are drinking strawberry flavored milk (little

Hershey's syrup) or some other non-water drink (Kool Aid) and eating cheese,

cereal (kids sugary garbage cereals) and lunchmeat.

I'm working on reducing out the unhealthy stuff (like the sugary cereal) but

I can't keep up with them! I'm giving them leftovers, plus regular meals,

plus ample cheese and more. Since I just cannot get them to drink water

throughout the day, I've started letting them have some stevia sweetened

KoolAid (BTW, the straight extract from NOW is very good in KoolAid).

They'll do fruit but with it being out of season it's expensive and I don't

want them to just load up on sugar from fruit either. I just made up a bowl

of cashews and walnuts for them (shelled, of course) so I figure I have

about 15-30 minutes before I'm forced to come up with more. LOL

I'd REALLY like to get them eating vegetables. They're not big on veggies

and raw veggies are a bit tough on the 2yo who doesn't have molars yet.

I'm going to get some trail mix to start putting out for them throughout the

day (just keep a bowl on the table basically). Anyone have some suggestions

on some snacks I can give them to gnosh on that would be healthy? I'm

especially interested in something that will increase their veggie intake.

January 13, 2006

I was hoping this was a list of ideas forb healthy snacks for kids!! I'm

having trouble with my 10 yr old wanting to eat junk all day (becoming a weight

issue, I feel). My 3 yr old is just the opposite... She doesn't eat much at

all & when she does, it's a sandwich or ff cottage cheese or spaghetti squash!

--

~Jenn

January 13, 2006

Even without molars, my son was able to gum slightly cooked baby carrots and

green beans. He loves dilly beans but won't eat the regular ones right now

(he's 7 ½ and seems to be going through a growth spurt, too). He's on a

beans straight-out-of-the-can kick right now - any kinds including black,

pinto, and garbanzo. I can't think of anything else, right now.

Good luck,

Cheryl

January 13, 2006

I wish I could remember what mine ate at that age. They are 9 and

12 now. A few items I recall:

Cheerios, shredded wheat, and occassional high fiber Graham cracker.

yogurt

dilute apple juice - I know this has sugar but they are still a

little young for sweetners. And their little bodies burn it faster.

I always add extra water to juice.

Apple sauce (non sweetned), raisins, and any other fruit.

Low-fat Peanut butter crackers.

Small popsicles

Ham and Turkey cubes

>

> Ok, it's happened -- BOTH of my toddlers are in a growth spurt. My

> daughter, who turns 4 in a few weeks, has been hungry virtually

non-stop for

> the last week or two. She eats a little at every meal (or on

occasion a

> lot) and keeps wanting to eat throughout the day. My boy (2yo),

is taking

> cues from her.

>

> Their primary favorites are drinking strawberry flavored milk

(little

> Hershey's syrup) or some other non-water drink (Kool Aid) and

eating cheese,

> cereal (kids sugary garbage cereals) and lunchmeat.

>

> I'm working on reducing out the unhealthy stuff (like the sugary

cereal) but

> I can't keep up with them! I'm giving them leftovers, plus

regular meals,

> plus ample cheese and more. Since I just cannot get them to drink

water

> throughout the day, I've started letting them have some stevia

sweetened

> KoolAid (BTW, the straight extract from NOW is very good in

KoolAid).

> They'll do fruit but with it being out of season it's expensive

and I don't

> want them to just load up on sugar from fruit either. I just made

up a bowl

> of cashews and walnuts for them (shelled, of course) so I figure I

have

> about 15-30 minutes before I'm forced to come up with more. LOL

>

> I'd REALLY like to get them eating vegetables. They're not big on

veggies

> and raw veggies are a bit tough on the 2yo who doesn't have molars

yet.

>

> I'm going to get some trail mix to start putting out for them

throughout the

> day (just keep a bowl on the table basically). Anyone have some

suggestions

> on some snacks I can give them to gnosh on that would be healthy?

I'm

> especially interested in something that will increase their veggie

intake.

>

January 13, 2006

My kids (same ages btw) love veggies if they can dip them in

something....usually ranch dressing. Even their cooked veggies they do this

with. They also love cheese....string cheese or just cheddar. Pretzels as

well. Hmm what else? 4 yr old loves popcorn, but I am always wary about

giving it to because it is a choking hazard still....as are nuts for

her....so I always just watch her very closely while she eats them. They also

like when I freeze those yogurts to go....then it's like ice cream. :-)

Good luck! My 2 yo is going through a growth spurt right now too. She had

oatmeal for bkfst w/ a clementine and then ate scrambled eggs an hour later at

a friends house, with some strawberries. Then she had crackers at the

playground and ate a whole cheeseburger at lunch!!! I was SHOCKED w/ the

cheeseburger! She has never done that! LOL

Noctaire noctaire@...> wrote: Ok, it's happened -- BOTH of my

toddlers are in a growth spurt. My