Toddler Grazing...

[mom2ljh]

Grazin' is an important and even necessary part of your Toddler's food repertoire!

Have you ever noticed that sometime around mid-morning, maybe between 10am and 11am, that your Toddler begins to enter "meltdown" mode? 

Toddlers are prone to blood sugar swings and need refueling to maintain themselves more often than we may realize.  To help combat the "meltdowns" and keep your Toddler on an even keel, let him graze as needed.  The only caveat with grazing is that you should not let it interfere with regular meals!

Leave grazin' favorites out around the same time that you suspect your Toddler needs refueling - the ideas below are safe to leave out for 1-2 hours in an average temperature home.  Grazin favorites may be used in place of or in conjunction with Snack time.

The Glorious Divided Dish (or the Mighty Muffin Tin)

1 divided dish, divided plastic storage container or muffin tin

diced fruits or diced veggies

coconut or rice yogurt dip

corn chips

Fill the compartments of your divided dish/container or muffin tin with the above ingredients and leave out on the table- ensure this is in easy reachable access to Toddlers.

Rice Cake Fiesta - Rice cakes are great grazin' foods and they are available in whole grain, unsalted versions too!

Prepare rice cakes with your Toddler's favorite spread or dip.  Grate an apple, parsnip and/or other fruits and veggies over the rice cake.  Colour and taste to tempt the Toddler to slow down and refuel!

Cracker Smackers 

Whole grain gluten free crackers - unsalted

Toddler's favorite spread or dip (sunbutter or golden pea butter work well)

1 grape or 2 raisins

Spread dip or spread on the crackers and top a cracker with 1 grape and another cracker with 2 raisins. Make as many of these as you feel your Toddler will eat.  Try other toppings as well.  It's the variety that will catch her eye and tempt her to at least nibble each cracker.

*This article and recipes were taken from www.wholesometoddlerfood.com.  The recipes were adapted as needed to meet the needs of my child with multiple food allergies.

[Bekah062205]

Oct. 25, 2008 at 1:14 AM

thanks for that info...i will definitely let her graze

[Gruntlings]

Oct. 25, 2008 at 1:17 AM

Awesome. :)

If I don't let my little guy graze, he attacks the refrigerator and starts pulling stuff out. :p Mostly eggs, which he thinks are hardboiled and which he's pissed off to find out are not..

Eggs, incidentally, are impossible to remove from carpets. :p

[spunkymomof3]

Oct. 25, 2008 at 1:40 AM

I have noticed this but I think my son lives in graze mode.  :)

We keep fruit in the house at all times, he also has his crackers that he loves. I love that website you posted, I used that site to learn how to make his baby food.  I am going to try the cracker idea you gave though, my daughter who is four would even like that.