Try a toddler snack plate to make lunch fun or to help with picky eating! Supplies needed, food ideas, and 11 toddler snack plates based on what my toddlers eat.
Snack trays, mini charcuterie boards, muffin tin snack trays, or snack lunches. They go by many names but they are essentially all the same thing: a platter of healthy snacks laid out especially for your toddler.
My toddlers love when I serve their lunch as a snack plate or put together a cute tray of healthy foods for their snack. Most of the time I think they eat more of their meal when its served snack plate style.
Below you will find how to create a toddler snack plate, the supplies you need, good food for a toddler snack plate, and photos of toddler snack plate ideas.
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Supplies for a Toddler Snack Tray
You don’t need any fancy supplies to make a toddler snack tray. Any plate will work or a cutting board or muffin tin can also be good options. Here are some of my favorites to use for toddler snack plates:
EZPZ Divided Plate: a fun and unique suction divided plate! We adore these plates and love them because they are made of non-toxic silicone and are extremely durable.
Pillowfort Plates: these are the plates that we use for all of our meals. They are cheap and affordable! I like to use the ones without dividers for snack plates.
Muffin Tin: a muffin tin is another fun option for a toddler snack tray. We have this silicone one and it works great for baked goods as well as snack trays.
Small Bamboo Cutting board: for easy clean up you can also serve the snack tray on the same cutting board you used to cut the food. It looks cute and your toddler will never know the difference.
Crinkle Cutter: a crinkle cutter is a fun way to add texture and fun shapes to your toddler snack plates. Its especially helpful for cutting avocado and sweet potato so that they are easier to pick up.
Toddler Food Cutters: we have this set and the smaller food cutters are super fun to use on avocado, cheese, fruits, and veggies.
How to Create a Toddler Snack Plate
A toddler snack plate is one of the easiest meals you can make your toddler. You don’t need to make a main course, but instead prepare your toddler’s favorite snacks and side dishes. Here are the specific steps for creating a toddler snack plate:
Step 1: Look in your fridge and pantry and gather up all of your toddler’s favorite healthy snacks. Anything goes at this point. I like to stick to finger foods, but its easy to add in dips or even foods they need a spoon for. You just need a small portion of each food and I recommend 6-10 different snacks.
Step 2: Grab your toddler’s favorite plate or use a small cutting board or muffin tin instead. I prefer a plate without dividers just so its easier to lay the snacks out, but anything works.
Step 3: Cut up any food that needs to be cut and start arranging it on the plate, board, or muffin tin. Using muffin tins makes it pretty easy to portion out since the portion is limited to the size of the pan. Try not to put out too much food because you can always add more, but extra food is likely to go to waste.
Step 4: Serve to your toddler for a meal or snack. This is a great option for play dates or if you have multiple children. If i’m serving lunch I normally give each of my toddler’s their own plate at the table, but if its for a snack I normally serve it in a muffin tin in the living room.
Foods for a Toddler Snack Tray
Anything goes when making your toddler snack plate. Choose your toddler’s favorite foods or whatever you have in your fridge or pantry (leftovers side dishes are great too). Here are some of my toddler’s favorites for snack plates:
Protein
- Whole milk string cheese
- Turkey or ham lunch meat
- Soft cheese like mozzarella or Laughing Cow cheese
- Shredded, sliced, or cubed cheese
- Salami or pepperoni
- Nuts (chopped)
- Sausage or hot dogs
Fruits & Veggies
- Raspberries
- Avocado
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Kiwi
- Cucumbers
- Tomato
- Mixed veggies (peas, carrots, corn, green beans)
- Mandarin oranges
- Carrots (cooked or sliced thin)
- Apples or pears
- Squash
- Watermelon
- Sweet potato
- Bell peppers
Snacks
- Amara Smoothie Melts (organic, clean ingredients, and no added sugar!)
- Raisins
- Granola or cereal bars
- Whole wheat crackers
- Snack crackers (like Goldfish)
- Pretzels
- Pepitas or other seeds
- Dried fruit
- Dried edamame
- Cheese puffs
- Dr. Praeger’s Spinach Littles
Looking for more? More Snack Tray Ideas
Toddler Snack Plate Ideas
Below are some snack plate ideas based on what my toddlers have been eating. I normally serve 6-10 foods per plate in fairly small portion sizes. They can always request more, but I don’t want all of the food to go to waste.
I also like to try to choose foods from different food groups so the snack plate is a fairly balanced meal. Its also fun to choose foods that are different colors so the snack plates are bright, colorful, and inviting to eat.
Toddler Snack Plate Idea #1
PB&J cut into bite-sized pieces, Amara Smoothie Melts (organic, clean ingredients, and no added sugar!), cucumber, crackers, strawberries, and cheese.
Plate: EZPZ Divided Plate
Toddler Snack Tray Idea #2
Whole wheat table crackers, a cut up Larabar, goldfish, tomatoes, mandarin oranges (from the can; drained and rinsed), grapes halved, whole milk string cheese, and shredded cheddar.
Toddler Snack Plate Idea #3
This was left overs from a larger charcuterie board we had the day before. Pepperoni, fresh mozzarella, salami, table crackers, avocado, grapes halved, turkey roll ups, and sliced cheddar cheese.
Toddler Snack Tray #4
Cooked baby carrots, peas, whole milk string cheese, chopped almonds, golden kiwi, goldfish, blueberries, shredded cheddar, and grapes halved.
Toddler Snack Plate Idea #5
Potato veggie bites (Dr. Praeger’s Spinach Littles), grapes halved, whole milk string cheese, leftover butternut squash, steamed apples, goldfish, and cooked carrots.
Toddler Snack Tray Idea #6
You can keep it simple with just a few of their favorites! Whole milk string cheese cut into bite-size pieces, avocado, blueberries, whole wheat crackers, and grapes.
Toddler Snack Plate #7
Turkey lunch meal, pretzel sticks, peas and carrots, raspberries, shredded cheddar cheese, avocado, sliced pear, whole milk string cheese bites, and chopped pecans.
Toddler Snack Tray Idea #8
Leftovers are great in your toddler snack plate! Hot dog (cut in half again for young toddlers), cubed cheese, cucumber slices, whole milk string cheese, grapes, sweet potato cubes, and pepitas.
Toddler Snack Plate #9
Make snack plates for different themes, seasons, and holidays! Strawberries, cheese crackers, tomatoes, whole milk string cheese, strawberry banana chips, red bell pepper, blood orange, ham roll ups, and strawberry applesauce.
Toddler Snack Tray #10
Leftover chicken sausage, grapes halved, shredded cheddar cheese, raisins, whole milk string cheese, watermelon, and avocado.
Muffin Tin Snack Tray Idea #11
A muffin tin is a fun option for snack trays. Whole milk string cheese bites, thinly sliced carrots, cheese puffs, strawberry banana chips, raisins, mandarin oranges, fig bar, and strawberries.
Looking for more? More Snack Tray Ideas
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