HEALTHY SNACKS WHILE TRAVELLING AND ON HOLIDAY

It’s not always easy to find the time and energy to be creative when your child says he’s hungry and you’re out of your comfort zone, on holiday. The temptation to give him a biscuit or something sweet that is easy and that you know is going to keep him quiet is often overwhelming. For these moments, it’s useful to always have something ready, like carrot sticks or some washed grapes. (Grapes should be chopped in half for the younger toddler to avoid the risk of choking.)

Little bowls with lids, and sandwich bags are very useful. You can make a selection of healthy snacks and keep them in a cooler bag to consume at a moment’s notice when your toddler is hungry.

Offering a variety of textures and tastes is a good way to get your toddler’s attention – crunchy, soft, smooth, hot, cold, sweet, sour, bland and spicy. Some exciting snacks for your toddler include:

VEGETABLES

Examples of vegetable snack foods include:

■ Celery sticks filled with cream cheese, hummus or peanut butter

■ Carrot sticks, celery sticks, sugar snap peas or raw beans and a dip

■ A small sandwich with a vegetable filling that your child enjoys, for example cucumber

FRUIT

It is important for small children to sit down if they are eating hard fruit such as an apple. Examples of healthy snacks containing fruit include:

■ Fruit cut into pieces arranged on a plate

■ Dried fruit such as sultanas or dried apricots

■ Banana sandwiches

DAIRY

Examples of snack foods containing dairy include:

■ Pieces of cheese

■ Small tubs of yoghurt

■ Yoghurt smoothies made with fruits like strawberry or banana – freeze the smoothie into icy poles on hot days to take with you to the beach

BREAD

Examples of healthy snacks containing bread include:

■ Strips of flatbread and dips

■ Toast or English muffins with grated cheese

■ Fresh bread rolled up with cream cheese, Marmite or a spread that your child likes, cut in a spiral

■ Bread rolled around fillings such as grated cheese or carrot

■ A small sandwich with a healthy filling that your child enjoys, such as tuna or chicken mayonnaise

OTHER IDEAS

Other ideas for healthy snack foods are:

■ Muffins with fruit or cheese in them (your child can help to make them)

■ Fruit loaf made with wholemeal flour and dried fruit or homemade banana bread

■ Small pancakes – you can mix in some cheese or fruit such as grated apple

OTHER QUICK IDEAS FOR HEALTHY ON-HOLIDAY SNACKS

■ Plain popcorn

■ Plain yoghurt

■ Hard-boiled eggs

■ Cubes of cheese

■ Baby corn

■ Rice cakes, Provita and plain digestive biscuits

■ Baked fruit chips

■ Fruit bars or dried fruit pieces

■ Mini vegetable muffins: carrot, spinach, baby marrow

■ High fibre cereal strips (nice to munch on instead of a highfat packet of chips)

■ Granola bars

■ Bread sticks

■ Unsalted pretzels

■ Woolworths has a range of mini pizzas, mini hamburger and mini hotdogs that are convenient to keep around for an emergency

■ Biltong