Snacks are the key to everyone’s heart, and toddlers are no exception. Having a variety of the best toddler snacks to take out in your stroller will make each of your outings a whole lot smoother.
We know the experts recommend you don’t feed your child in a moving vehicle (that includes a stroller!) due to the increased choking risk. But do these ‘experts’ even have children? If we want to get anything done with a toddler in tow, we know snacks are the answer. Let’s pack all the snacks we can, and keep a close eye on our little ones while they’re snacking.
But just what snacks should I take out in the stroller you ask? We asked our community of moms for their go-to’s when it comes to stroller snacking and this list is collated from their responses.
12 Easy On-The-Go Snacks for Toddlers:
#1 Cereal in a Container
My daughter loves taking cereal in a cup or container in her stroller. Cereals like Chex and Cheerios are perfect for on the go snacks, especially if we’re out for an early run and haven’t had time to grab a proper breakfast before we leave the house. (I’ll always prioritize a run over breakfast!)
#2 Sultanas and Raisins
Pop some sultanas, raisins or dried fruit into a container for your toddler to hold. This will keep little fingers busy trying to pick out the small fruit as you push the stroller. Who knew eating raisins could also help boost your toddler’s fine motor skills?
#3 Fruit – Apples, Pears and Bananas
Fast and easy to pack into the stroller, takes a long time to eat!
Fruit is a super easy one to take out in a stroller for your child to snack on. As well as being super healthy, fruit also requires no prep to pack in! You can also pack a peeler for any kids who are fussy and don’t like eating apple or pear skin. I always do this for my fussy daughter, and it takes 30 seconds to produce a quick snack that will take her at least 20 minutes to munch.
#4 Crackers or Rice Cakes
Any sort of crackers that your toddler can hold easily are perfect to take out in the stroller. Some cracker types to avoid include crackers with large seeds or nuts which could be a choking hazard. If your child is 1 year or younger, select crackers that are soft and easy to chew.
#5 Kid Sized Cheese Sticks
Cheese sticks are the perfect stroller snack, and count towards your toddler’s daily protein and calcium intake! You can cut your own cheese sticks at home or opt for store bought cheese sticks for convenience. Cheese sticks do need to be kept cold, so they may not be a good idea for a full day out in the stroller unless you’re taking an insulated lunch box.
#6 Boiled Carrot Sticks
Carrot sticks – Talk about an affordable snack! While carrots are super cheap to buy, they are also quick to peel, cut into sticks and boil in less than 10 minutes. At the start of each week, I just peel, cut and boil 5-6 carrots at a time and this will last our family the whole week. Store them in a glass container, and each time you go out you can grab some to pop in a plastic bag or container.
#7 Baby Granola Bars or Muesli Bars
Yes, they come in a packet but hear me out! We all know that sometimes convenience wins over healthy. If your toddler will eat them and they stay happy and content in their stroller, why not offer your toddler a granola bar?
Granola bars are super handy for toddlers to hold, and my daughter demands one every time she gets in the stroller (what have I started!) There are some really good organic granola bar options out there if you’re concerned about limiting sugar for your toddler.
#8 Cucumber Sticks
Cucumber sticks are another refreshing snack to have on the go for your toddler. Like most fruits (yep, cucumber is a fruit!), cucumbers are super easy to prepare and stash into a container. Due to their mushiness, they can be a little messy, but can be cleaned off with a quick wipe and doesn’t leave too much residue on your stroller.
#9 Food Pouch
Many toddlers still love fruit food pouches, so don’t write these off as baby-only snacks! A food pouch is easy to take in the stroller and snack on the go.
Food pouches are great because they will fill up your child as a nourishing snack. However, some kids really don’t get the hang of how to suck these so bear this in mind before you let your toddler squeeze pureed fruit all over his stroller seat!
#10 Gingernut Biscuits
Ok, I get these are hard for a toddler. But even for my 8 month old, a good old fashioned gingernut will keep her busy sucking for 20 minutes in the stroller (provided she doesn’t drop it!) Because these biscuits are so hard -even I struggle to get a bite into the store bought ones!- I’m not too concerned about baby choking, but I do try to keep a close eye on her all the same. Think of gingernut biscuits as your new rusk specially made for toddlers.
#11 Compartment Lunch Box
There are piles of options for compartment lunch boxes (aka Bento boxes) out there which work wonderfully to take out in the stroller. My daughter is always absolutely thrilled when I surprise her with a lunch box filled with various snacks for her to graze on as we run. Just keep in mind that the lunchbox needs to be small enough to fit on your toddlers lap, and easy enough to hold while they eat, without falling overboard.
Food options to add to a lunchbox include:
Ham slices
Cut up fruit or fruit segments
Pasta
Pretzels
- Any of the snacks already listed earlier
#12 When you’re desperate – Sweets!
Now, I’ll admit it, I’m human and I do often carry unhealthy snacks with me in case of emergencies! Some days toddlers just don’t want to cooperate and there’s only so many healthy snacks they will take. If you are really trying to finish off that run or walk but baby has other ideas, a sweet biscuit or small candy can really help. Some of my unhealthy snacks for my toddlers have included:
A small container of mini m&m’s
Lollipops
Cookies
What Can I Do To Keep My Child Safe While Snacking in a Stroller?
Understandably, you may be concerned about your child’s safety while snacking in the stroller.
Always consider whether your snacks are age appropriate for your toddler.
Keep a close eye on your toddler as much as you can, and always stop jogging or walking the stroller to check on your child if you’re worried. This is a no-brainer, but it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Keep the seat upright as this will help the food to go down easily.
Avoid hard or round food (such as grapes or hot dog) that your child can choke on. A great tip is to halve grapes or other round foods to reduce choking risks.
Keep your toddler’s water bottle handy. Drinking water will not only help your toddler stay hydrated, but help wash food down and reduce choking. You can tie your toddler’s water bottle to the stroller or purchase a drink bottle and snack tray holder just for the pram.
Conclusion
Armed with the best snack options for your toddler, we hope you can enjoy each stroller trip outside the house!
If you’re new to the world of getting started with postpartum running, you will find out pretty fast that snacks will help you with any outing with your baby or toddler.
If your toddler needs more than just snacks to keep him in the stroller, you might want to check out our article on essential tips for stroller running with kids.
Good luck keeping your toddler happy with snacks while out and about in the stroller. If you have any favourite snacks that your toddler loves that aren’t listed here, please let us know!
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