10 healthy on-the-go baby snacks

For a trip to the park, playdate or afternoon doing errands, having some healthy snacks packed for your little one can really be a life saver.

Nowadays baby aisles offer sweetened yogurt drops, puffed cereals and teething biscuits in a variety of flavors aimed specifically as snacks for babies. But instead of loading up on those processed bagged snacks, try to feed your baby foods that are as close to their natural state as possible.

Feeding your baby whole foods from the start can help to shape his cravings and tastes to prefer real, unprocessed foods. A 2016 study done by Journal Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that food preferences are developed by two years old. The study uncovered that babies just over a year old who regularly ate fruits and vegetables were more likely to eat those healthy foods without fuss at nearly four years old. So, instead of yogurt drops, pack a spoon and some plain yogurt!

On another note, baby food squeeze pouches seem like an obvious on-the-go snack, but try to use them sparingly. Babies need to learn to spoon and finger feed in order to develop their eating skills, so squeeze pouches are not recommended for frequent use, especially for younger babies.

here are some of my favorite on-the-go snacks for babies:

Banana, 6 months+
Applesauce, 6 months+
Diced or mashed avocado, 6 months+
Blueberries, halved, 8 months+
Cooked edamame, 8 months+
Full fat cottage cheese, 9 months+
Tiny pieces of cut-up fruit, like kiwi, pear and mango, 9 months+
O-shaped cereals, 10 months+
Unsweetened whole milk yogurt with chia or flaxseeds mixed in, 10 months+
Shredded cheddar cheese, 10 months+

For those foods that need to be kept cold, put the food in a little baggy or lidded baby food bowl, then put in a lunch box with a cold pack. It'll keep for hours and make snack time easy.