Description
A healthy and convenient baby-friendly trail mix featuring a colorful blend of unsweetened dried fruits, whole-grain cereal, puffed grains, and optional finely chopped nuts. Perfect as a nutritious snack for babies and toddlers, this no-cook recipe is easy to prepare and safe for little ones, with small, soft pieces to minimize choking hazards.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits
- 1/2 cup unsweetened dried apples, chopped into small pieces
- 1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped into small pieces
- 1/4 cup unsweetened raisins or dried cranberries (check for no added sugar)
- 1/4 cup freeze-dried fruit (such as strawberries or blueberries)
Grains and Snacks
- 1/4 cup mini whole-grain cereal (like Cheerios or a baby-friendly cereal)
- 1/4 cup small puffed rice or puffed quinoa
- 1/4 cup mini pretzels (unsalted)
Nuts (Optional)
- 1/4 cup small, unsalted nuts (optional, make sure they are finely chopped if you use them for babies under 4 years old)
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Chop the dried apples and apricots into small, bite-sized pieces that are soft and easy for babies to chew safely.
- Prep Nuts if Using: Finely chop the unsalted nuts into very small pieces to avoid any choking hazards for babies under 4 years old.
- Safety Check: Ensure all ingredients, including dried fruits, cereals, and snacks, are small and safe for babies or toddlers, with no large pieces that could pose a choking risk.
- Mix the Trail Mix: In a large bowl, combine the chopped dried fruits, mini whole-grain cereal, puffed rice or quinoa, raisins or cranberries, mini pretzels, freeze-dried fruit, and finely chopped nuts if using.
- Combine Gently: Stir all the ingredients carefully to ensure they are well distributed without crushing the delicate freeze-dried fruits or cereals.
- Serve or Store: Serve immediately as a wholesome snack or store the trail mix in an airtight container for up to one week. Ideal for on-the-go snacking or afternoon munching.
Notes
- Make sure all dried fruits and nuts are chopped finely to prevent choking hazards.
- You can omit nuts to make the trail mix nut-free if desired.
- Use unsweetened and no added sugar ingredients for a healthier snack.
- Store the trail mix in an airtight container to maintain freshness and crunchiness for up to one week.
- This recipe is versatile; feel free to substitute any dried fruits or cereals according to your baby’s preferences and dietary needs.
