I read about the concept of a “nibble tray” for toddlers online about 2 years ago. I can’t recall the source, but no doubt it was a savvy mom blogger!
The basic idea of a nibble tray is to give young toddlers the freedom of choice in their snacking even from a very young age. A nibble tray is basically an ice cube tray filled with various snacks and left out for the child to enjoy throughout the day.
There are several reasons that the nibble tray has been something Darah and I both have enjoyed using throughout her toddlerhood.
First, setting out Darah’s snacks at the beginning of the day is a great tool for teaching self-discipline. Darah has come to understand that the snacks I put out for her are her snacks for the entire day. She can choose to eat them all at 8am or she can choose to eat them when she feels a bit hungry. It’s really up to her. Make no mistake, the child makes quick work of them whenever I include a few chocolate chips, but otherwise, she has learned not to eat all of her snack for the day first thing, as she has experienced the consequence of this choice (no snacks when she really wants one at 3pm, for example). But ultimately, the control she has over her snacking is a great thing for her independence.
Second, Darah really loves having variety, and she loves to examine all her different options and ask questions about anything that is new to her. This is a really great way to introduce new snack items and help her feel excited about them. Something that might get overlooked if put on a plate (celery sticks) suddenly seems interesting when sticking out of an ice cube tray. It’s true!
Third, I love not having to go get a snack for her 40 times a day when she asks for one. I simply point to her tray!
I highly recommend the nibble tray as a great way to introduce new foods and to help your child learn how to have control over their snack time throughout the day!
Dr. Sears recommended this idea at a talk I attended a few weeks ago. I am looking forward to trying it out when my little guy gets a bit older!
Do you leave it sitting out all day or does it need to be refrigerated?
Great question! It depends on what I have put in the tray, and also the time of year (meaning how warm it is inside the house). Usually the try sits out for most of the day in the house and I don’t worry about it. But my daughter also tends to make quick work of the items that need refrigeration (such as the cheese). The peas you see in the example above actually come straight out of the freezer, as the cold, frozen texture is fun for my daughter. But if she doesn’t eat them right away, they just thaw over time and are still totally fine to eat, even when thawed.
I love this idea but I must ask: are those frozen peas? Do those go over well?! lol
They are frozen peas, and they are a hit! It’s a texture thing, I think…they have a nice cold and firm feel. Darah likes them!
I LOVE this idea! My daughter is constantly snacking, and more often than not, it’s goldfish or gummy fruit bites that she’s asking for. This sounds like a fun way to control her snacking while getting her to eat some healthier snacks! I’m definitely giving this a try.
So glad you like the idea! It’s definitely one that works for us!