Hellobee Boards Topic: How often do you give your toddler a snack?

Hellobee Boards Topic: How often do you give your toddler a snack? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 01 Aug 2026 14:14:55 +0000 JessKas on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack/page/2#post-2203254 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 16:00:03 +0000 JessKas 2203254@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pretty much all day long. It's all healthy food, and she's constantly on the move and small, so I don't worry about it. Besides, I'm a healthy weight/size and snack all day long. I think it's more about the kinds of foods that are often offered as snacks, as opposed to the actual act of snacking. lulibee on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack/page/2#post-2203229 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 15:36:12 +0000 lulibee 2203229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 0-1 a day. If I give him snacks, he usually won't eat his meals - and he's always been a bad eater. travelgirl1 on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack/page/2#post-2203227 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 15:35:42 +0000 travelgirl1 2203227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I feel like I am constantly giving snacks! But she is tall and thin, I,m not at all worried about the prospect of her putting weight on. Snacks are usually fruit, yoghurt, raisins, chick peas, humus, sometimes goldfish. Mrs Green Grass on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack/page/2#post-2203217 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 15:21:54 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2203217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We do a morning and afternoon snack, but they're pretty small. Sometimes my dad just gives LO food all day long and I am not a fan...I want him to eat at meals. But snacks are necessary to get him to meal-times. sarac on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack/page/2#post-2203077 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 13:32:01 +0000 sarac 2203077@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We are a family of grazers/many small meal eaters, so we tend to eat when we're hungry throughout the day. But our food is mostly whole foods with junk food only as a sometimes treat, so I don't worry about it. My daughter is also nuts about the fruits and veggies - she eats 5-10 servings of them per day, no joke. I try to limit it right before dinner, because that's our big family meal, but that's about it. Besides that, she can just eat all day if she wants to. My daughter and husband have very healthy body compositions, so that makes it easier to know that they're doing exactly the right thing in terms of eating choices. If my second child had a less healthy body composition, I might do things differently. Anagram on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack/page/2#post-2203075 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 13:31:05 +0000 Anagram 2203075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Back to this......I think the biggest indicator that there is a problem is your child's BMI or their height/weight percentage ratios (after a certain age). I can't find it now, but I know someone recently posted an article that said (edit: it's 95%!) 80% of parents of overweight children said their child looked "just right". So as a parent, I guess I've learned recently that I can't go by how I feel my child looks---I have to go by the numbers. And if her BMI or ratios start getting out of wack--like her weight is a much higher percentile than her height, then I would definitely discuss with my doctor and see if I should be making changes to our eating habits. I do have a niece and nephew who I feel (given, it's from an outsider's perspective) snack too much and "bad" foods. They eat cookies, chips, and empty calories literally all day long and they never eat their meals. They don't have a problem with weight at this point, but who knows how long that will last. Purpledaisy on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack/page/2#post-2203069 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 13:23:25 +0000 Purpledaisy 2203069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Like all day. She's very snacky. But she's always been on the tiny side so it doesn't bother me. We are kinda a snacky family in general so she probably learned from her parents. :silly: hellobeeboston on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2203061 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 13:08:16 +0000 hellobeeboston 2203061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ He gets two snacks at school (10am and 4pm) and then he has another small snack at home before dinner. Weekends end up being 2-3 snacks too. Snacks range from a cheese stick, pretzels, goldfish, fruit pouch, fruit, pepperoni, etc. illumina on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2203056 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 13:03:05 +0000 illumina 2203056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ In the morning, she gets one snack mid way between breakfast and lunch...though it varies in the afternoon, sometimes if we're busy and I forget she doesn't care, but other times she will have one snack and then ask for another. I generally give her as much as she wants as long as she's done eating by 4pm so I know she'll want dinner. sorrycharlie on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2203025 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 12:23:40 +0000 sorrycharlie 2203025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ A lot. She's a grazer. But I'm including fruit, cheese, pouches as a snack. Bao on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2203023 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 12:21:21 +0000 Bao 2203023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Too many snacks but for "not so healthy" snacks maybe 2 a day. Other times it is healthier snacks and I'm ok with that. Adira on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2203019 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 12:16:49 +0000 Adira 2203019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mrs. Lion: Oh, hahaha, I don't know! I'm not up-to-date on what's the latest health trends! Mrs. Lion on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2203011 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 12:10:49 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2203011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Adira: I think I read that's a myth...that it keeps your insulin levels spiked all day and it can lead to insulin resistance. But who knows...anything nutrition related has people on both ends claiming to be right. I never know what to do haha I picked 1, but sometimes we have 2. I try not to encourage frequent snacking though. I also make him sit for meals and snacks...maybe he will grow having better eating habits than I do.... daniellemybelle on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2203010 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 12:10:46 +0000 daniellemybelle 2203010@https://boards.hellobee.com/ LO gets 2-3 snacks per day. She is 19.5 months. She gets a morning snack between breakfast and lunch, an afternoon snack after her nap, and sometimes another snack to tide her over to dinner when I am not on my game and dinner is late. I think having to bring two snacks for a preschool class that is 9-12 like the example in the article is a bit much. But my daughter is always hungry for meals even when she has snacks. I try to offer nutritious snacks (fruit, cheese sticks, etc.) instead of things like Goldfish as much as possible and the portions are small. I think many kids naturally "graze" and I prefer that to her being so hungry that she then learns to overeat at meals, which is what many Americans (myself included) do. blackbird on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2203006 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 11:58:23 +0000 blackbird 2203006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 1-2x a day. Always an afternoon one, sometimes a morning one. I keep food down low for her so she brings it to us when she wants it. I won't let her have one if it's almost dinner time, but otherwise, the choices are healthy and if she wants one, she can have one. I hide stuff like cookies, though, otherwise she gets tunnel vision (I made a batch of lactation cookies yesterday and unfortunately she saw them and wigged out...) Adira on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2203005 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 11:58:00 +0000 Adira 2203005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I thought even for adults 5-6 smaller "meals" a day was more healthy than 2-3 larger ones because it keeps your metabolism going all day long? Xander gets two snacks a day, but like others, they're healthy snacks! Usually some fruit, yogurt, and maybe a couple crackers. Snacks are rarely sweets. hilsy85 on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2202998 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 11:50:19 +0000 hilsy85 2202998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Mid morning (around 10) and afternoon (around 4). He does not seem to have the desire to really have large meals so there's no way he could make it til lunch or dinner regularly without snacks (although he sometimes will!). catomd00 on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2202996 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 11:46:41 +0000 catomd00 2202996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I also should say that every person is different. I didn't like the generalizations in the article. I have a super fast metabolism and literally eat all. Day. Long. Frequent small meals work best for me and help me get enough calories in to maintain my weight. I suspect my daughter is the same judging by how much she eats yet how small she is. I just personally don't ever want to make food a battle and prefer a relaxed approach, assuming my child is healthy. If you're offering healthy snacks, it shouldn't really matter if they eat the snack or the main course. Lots of times, leftovers end up as snacks for my daughter the next day. fancyfunction on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2202994 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 11:45:31 +0000 fancyfunction 2202994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We do 2 a day - usually fruit or yogurt. If we're out and about I'll give her a fruit/veggie pouch with a cracker or two. Greentea on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2202991 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 11:41:44 +0000 Greentea 2202991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @catomd00: exactly! i don't think "limiting" is a healthy approach in regard to lifelong healthy relationships with food. MoonMoon on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2202984 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 11:39:02 +0000 MoonMoon 2202984@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @ShootingStar: I understand that, but from how my husband described it, they pulled out the snacks as soon as they got there, and their kids had no interest in the restaurant food. They were there for kids eat free night, so what was even the point? 2PeasinaPod on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2202977 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 11:36:58 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2202977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We do 2-3 snacks per day depending on if he's napped and how early or late we eat dinner. His morning snack is usually either a banana or yogurt while his afternoon snack is usually goldfish or peanut butter crackers. If we have an early dinner, he'll only get something if he's finished his dinner. If he hasn't finished it and he asks for a snack, he gets the rest of his dinner. @catomd00: I feel the same way that you do. Our snacks aren't horrible for him, and he's always been right at or below the 50th percentile in weight. I think you have to do what's best for your family. catomd00 on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2202962 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 11:27:57 +0000 catomd00 2202962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I give my 16 month old food whenever she asks. She's teeny so I'm not concerned. I feel it's important for her to learn to listen to her body's hunger/full cues. looch on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2202959 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 11:25:48 +0000 looch 2202959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ So, I read the article, and yes, I do agree with the whole concept of limiting extra food at things like parties. If you're having a holiday celebration, do a craft instead of eating cupcakes. But straight up snacks are part of our meal planning and my son does better if he eats smaller meals more frequently. autumnlove on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2202958 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 11:25:06 +0000 autumnlove 2202958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 1-2 snacks a day. Mrs. Champagne on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2202952 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 11:20:47 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2202952@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Usually two. Mid morning and then after nap. This morning snack was a kiwi, this afternoon maybe a granola bar. Or if we grocery shop the free cookie will be his snack. Greentea on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2202949 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 11:19:58 +0000 Greentea 2202949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ LO gets unlimited snacks. She is 27% for weight and 97% for height. I don't agree with limiting snacks, but in regard to the article- I would rather pack a snack than have to do group snack at any age! regberadaisy on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2202948 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 11:19:33 +0000 regberadaisy 2202948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Can't read the article because it keeps wanting me to sign up. But I did catch the picture of chips and...m&ms. Well, yeah, if your child is snacking on junk food all the time, of course they're going to be overweight. Like pp it's more about content for me. I have no issues with my kids snacking. I can't go between meals without eating something so I certainly don't expect my growing child to! Foodnerd81 on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2202946 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 11:16:17 +0000 Foodnerd81 2202946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ C is 22 months and gets two snacks usually- mid morning and mid afternoon. She just doesn't eat enough at meals to keep her full until the next meal. They are usually extensions of what I would feed for a meal (cheese stick, fruit, applesauce, Cheerios) but sometimes they are a little carb heavy. Mrs. Oatmeal on "How often do you give your toddler a snack?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-give-your-toddler-a-snack#post-2202945 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 11:16:01 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 2202945@https://boards.hellobee.com/ K is a grazer. She eats breakfast, lunch and dinner really well, but also has two big snacks at daycare and often one when she gets home around 5. She's a peanut though and I'm not worried about her eating habits!