Children usually like snacks, although it is not advisable to let them eat snacks excessively. Some parents often consider snacking as a bad habit and either deny their children snacks completely or satisfy their taste buds without considering the nutritional value. These approaches are not conducive to the healthy development of children. Below, I will recommend several snacks that babies love to eat and are also healthy.
Fruits or Fruit Juice
Fruits contain rich vitamins and minerals, which can stimulate appetite and aid digestion. The timing of eating fruits is important. Eating them before a meal can reduce appetite, while eating them after a meal is not conducive to digestion and absorption. It is generally recommended to eat fruits between meals. The types of fruits depend on the season. In summer, watermelon, cantaloupe, peaches, grapes, summer oranges, and plums can be eaten. However, the amount should not be excessive, especially for fruits that are cooling or easily cause internal heat. Freshly squeezed fruit juice is better than processed fruit juice bought in stores in terms of nutrition.
Yogurt
There are many benefits to giving children yogurt: drinking 150ml of yogurt every day can provide 1/3 of the daily energy and calcium needed; the lactic acid bacteria in yogurt can regulate the normal flora of the gastrointestinal tract, promoting digestion; the lactose in yogurt is an ingredient in the brain and nervous system's cerebrosides, and drinking yogurt regularly can promote brain development. It is generally recommended for children to drink a cup of yogurt one hour after a meal, which is beneficial for their growth and development.
Dried Fruits
Although there have been news reports about dried fruits getting stuck in babies' throats, we cannot deny that dried fruits have very high nutritional value. For example, walnuts can improve brain function and enhance memory, peanuts, melon seeds, and pistachios contain essential fatty acids and trace elements, almonds have a high zinc content, and cashews provide high-quality fats and promote blood circulation. However, we should not avoid eating dried fruits because of the risks. It is generally not recommended for babies under 3 years old to consume nuts directly, but you can cook or roast them and grind them into powder for babies to eat.
Grain-based Foods
Grain-based foods (biscuits, cakes, bread, etc.) contain proteins, fats, and sugars. Children can eat pastries as a snack in the afternoon to supplement calories, but they should not be treated as staple foods or let children eat them freely, especially not before meals.
Doctor's advice: snacks must be hygienic, safe, and easily digestible. Avoid eating street food, food with food coloring, etc. It is better to eat in small quantities, such as a small plate of walnuts, peanuts, or melon seeds, and a small amount of dried fruits such as apricots, peaches, hawthorn, or dried tangerine peel. Obese children should eat less or avoid overly sweet foods.
