[Mars]

I've been thinking about exploring other cereals as healthy snacks and also as breakfast options for Amara. I've been reading the labels in the supermarket because I know that a lot of these cereals are loaded with sugars.
So far, she's only ever had Cheerios. Do you offer your littles ones (babies/toddlers) other types of cereal like apple jacks, mini wheats, etc. If you do, what brands and types do you give them?

I recently bought some Gerber animal crackers and vegetable crackers for her to try but she doesn't seem to fancy them.

[sara~b]

HMMMM... If I remember correctly when Gemma was that age I just gave her the Gerber toddler cereals. I don't even know if they still have them. I let her try a little of anything I was eating most of the time so she probably had Fruit Loops or other cereals in very small quantities but I don't remember ever giving her a portion for herself until she was close to 2. KUP on what you find out and how it goes! I feel like I'm relearning everything this time!

GERBER® GRADUATES® Fruit Puffs

GERBER® GRADUATES® Veggie Puffs

These are what I was thinking of. Hope that helps!

[Frozendesire]

We've never really done boxed cereals. Just cheerios and some fibre 1. For snacky things have you tried Gold Fish? Both my boys love Gerber Crunchies. Ritz crackers, premium plus crackers, umm... haha I'm trying to think of all the snacks we do.

For cereal we do dry cheerios (sometimes Curtis has milk) and a fruit. We also do waffles. We do scrambled eggs.

But ya, boxed cereals always seemed to sugary to serve little ones.. I'm going to keep an eye on here though cause i LOVE sticking snacks in a baggy and bringing them with us places lol.

[Mars]

Sara, I use those ones as well for her. Was just wondering if there was anything I could get in a larger quantity that was just as good. Amara loves the veggie/fruit puffs but she doesn't care for the Gerber crackers or the animal snacks.

Steph, I've never tried the Gold Fish or the Crunchies. I'll look for them when I go back to the supermarket.

I'm mainly encouraging her to snack on fruit but I'll looking to add more variety since she's been changing the foods she eats.

I've never done waffles either. Do you buy them, like the Eggo ones? Or do you make them? I don't have a waffle maker but if there's a healthy brand I can buy, I'd try it. Or I'd just buy a waffle maker and do some.

I tried her with egg yolks and at first she ate them but then she stopped. Hopefully after she turns 1, she'll do ok with scramble eggs since I can use the whites as well.

Keep the ideas coming.

[sara~b]

unsalted breadsticks with a pureed veggie dip (like carrots)
cucumber (cut the outside dark green off)
pre-shredded cheese made with whole milk
cut-up grilled cheese sandwiches
whole wheat waffles
mac n cheese
blend chickpeas with a little water and use as a hummus dip for pieces of bread
applesauce (can be spread on whole wheat toast or waffles or pancakes)
oatmeal made with milk
teddy grahams crackers
rice krispies cereal
french toast sticks
sliced up black olives
pieces of baked potato

Hope that helps!

[Frozendesire]

I do buy them, so they aren't the healthiest. You could look at the ingredients and see if you can find one that healthy, or making your own is a great option. Good stick some fruit in there as well. Bagels are great too. We did lots of those when Curtis was younger.

If you make waffles, you can even freeze them and then put them in the toaster when you want to eat them. My inlaws do that alot and they turn out pretty good!

[Mars]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've tried loads of these but her tastes/interests seems to be changing. The ones that I haven't tried, I'm going to give it a go.

Here's what I've tried and not tried:

- unsalted breadsticks with a pureed veggie dip (like carrots) - tried this but doesn't care for the dip and she'll eat the biscuit sometimes.
- cucumber (cut the outside dark green off) - she eats this sometimes but isn't a fan.
- pre-shredded cheese made with whole milk - I give her cheddar cheese and she loves it. She's a huge cheese fan.
- cut-up grilled cheese sandwiches - she loves these too.
- mac n cheese - she loves this but i make it with cheddar cheese and I add veggies.
- applesauce (can be spread on whole wheat toast or waffles or pancakes) - tried this with toast but she didn't eat it. Will try it when I do the waffles. I make my own applesauce.
- oatmeal made with milk - I've made her oatmeal from the ground oats. Do you think I can start using the quaker oats flakes?
pieces of baked potato - she used to love this but not anymore.
bagels - she didn't take to these at all.

Never tried these but will
- whole wheat waffles
- blend chickpeas with a little water and use as a hummus dip for pieces of bread
- teddy grahams crackers - never tried these but will.
- rice krispies cereal - never tried these but will.
- french toast sticks - never tried these but will.
- sliced up black olives - never tried these but will.

For snack I always use fruit for Kirsty, but have started giving her a few baby crisps alongside her fruit. I'm lucky in that Kirsty adores all fruits so I have a good variety to choose from.

For cereal, mostly breakfast consists of a slice of toast & a fruit for Kirsty. But I do try to offer cereal, we have tried cheerios, Rice Krispies and a supermarket own brand of fibre-waffle-shaped-thingies (lol!). But these give her diarreah so I don't give her much of them.

I find it difficult to get baby-friendly "grown up" cereal which is why I mostly use toast.

Kirsty also adores cheese, like Amara! She wont eat egg though, I have tried scrambled & boiled with her and she didn't care for either!

Do you get ricecakes over there? I use those too as snacks.

[Mars]

Amara's great with fruit and veggies so I'm really happy there but I wanted to add a few more items for variety.

I'll have to look for the rice cakes. I know we get the rice krispies bars which are made with marshmallows. I find them to be a bit sweet.