10 Toddler Foods My 5-Year-Old Is Still Happy to Eat
When your kids are toddlers, they’re volatile little beings that can get hangry in a heartbeat. Heaven forbid you don’t have a package of something bunny-shaped in your purse when an errand runs longer than expected — you could end up with a raging toddler or unexpectedly having to shell out for ice cream. So you learn to carry snacks.
Some snacks are so good, though, that kids never stop wanting to eat them — even once they’re well past toddlerhood. My girls are now 3 and 5, and while my younger one has almost aged out of the toddler stage, she’s the excuse my older one uses to stock up on her favorite snacks. And I’m totally fine with it. I’d prefer they both eat the lower-sugar, usually-whole-grain carbs made for little ones. And if they’d rather have their fruits and veggies dried out or in stick, puff, or animal shapes, shouldn’t I be happy they’re getting their daily dose?
So without further ado — and after a quick survey of my friends’ kids, too — here are 10 toddler foods that 5-year-olds are still happy to eat.
- GoGo SqueeZ Apple Sauce, $3.50 for four, 3.2-ounce pouches: The only two ingredients in these pouches? Apples and apple juice concentrate.
- Annie’s Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks, $15 for 24 pouches: These fruit snacks are made without artificial flavors, synthetic colors, preservatives, or high-fructose corn syrup.
- Just FreshDirect Organic Roasted Seaweed Snack, $3 for three, .17-ounce packs at FreshDirect: I feel way better giving this crunchy snack to my kids than I would, say, a bag of potato chips.
- Annie’s Homegrown Cheddar Bunnies, $4 for 7.5 ounces: If we’re being honest, this is also a favorite of the in-office adult staff at Apartment Therapy Media, Kitchn’s parent company.
- Earth’s Best Sunny Days Snack Bars, $21 for 48: This brand, as a whole, was just recommended by a doctor for another story we just ran. See: 5 Tips For Picking On-The-Go Snacks for Toddlers, According to 5 Pediatricians
- Cheerios, $3.50 for 21 ounces: Because one never really outgrows plain ol’ Cheerios.
- Happy Baby Organic Puffs, $3 for 2.1 ounces at Target: These are actually even meant for babies, but my kids continue to ask for them. I like that they’re easy to stash in the car in a stroller’s cup holder.
- Chobani Kids Yogurt Tubes, $4 for eight, 2-ounce tubes: Chobani’s yogurt tubes for kids have less sugar than other brands. And my kids still willingly eat them.
- Organic Valley String Cheese, $4.50 for six: The Harris Teeter by me has string cheese with characters from Frozen on it and that is my kids’ preferred version of string cheese — Minions are also acceptable. I suppose regular string cheese would do in a pinch.
- The Laughing Cow Mini Babybel Snack Cheese, $3.50 for six: Each 70-calorie wheel is a good source of protein and calcium. Plus, they’re fun for kids to open. For when your kids are even older: A Guide to Every Flavor of Laughing Cow Cheese
Do you have any snacks to add to this list? Put them in the comments below!