Snacks can be incorporated into an infant’s diet around the age of 7 months, either in the morning or afternoon, depending on the length of their naps. But be careful! Snacks should not replace one of the three regular, complete meals. That’s why we suggest leaving at least 1.5 to 2 hours between a snack and a meal.

In addition, the amount should be measured to prevent the snack from being too filling and causing the baby to drink less milk or lose interest in eating during meals. It’s all about balance!

Small eaters:

Some infants are not big eaters; that’s just how they are, and even if parents encourage them to eat different foods, it can still be difficult to get them to eat enough. In this situation, snacks can be very important in filling nutritional gaps at mealtimes.

Basic guidelines for making informed snack choices:

• Choose fresh foods.
• Be bold with variety! Try offering foods from different food groups.
• Choose safe foods to avoid choking hazards. Present foods according to the child’s age and ability (pureed, chopped, sliced, grated, shredded, in smoothies, etc.).
• Opt for unprocessed (or minimally processed) foods with a short list of ingredients. If you have the time and energy, cook them yourself!

Let yourself be inspired!

Quick and easy

• Fruit (apple, banana, pear, mango, etc.)
• Vegetables (avocado, cucumber, etc.)
• Legumes (lentils, hummus, etc.)
• Pieces of mild cheese or a small portion of cottage cheese
• Hard-boiled egg, mashed or chopped
• Whole grain, multigrain, oatmeal cereals… (Sugar should not be among the first two ingredients. Also make sure there is no more than 8g of sugar per serving—the less, the better!)

Minimal preparation

• Apple slices topped with a little peanut butter
• Banana slices dipped in baby cereal
• Rice cakes or whole grain crackers with a little peanut butter or nut butter
• Smooth hummus served on crackers, pita chips, or as a dip with vegetable sticks
• Homemade smoothies: Have fun mixing and matching different nutritious ingredients each time! Yogurt, fruit, silken tofu, avocado, orange juice, milk (breast milk or commercial milk)—the possibilities are endless!

Home cooking

• Homemade muffins or cookies:
  • Choose high-quality ingredients such as olive oil, whole wheat flour, or whole grain flour.
  • Some recipes are made with legumes, which are a very nutritious alternative!
  • Reduce the sugar by substituting it (in whole or in half) with applesauce, mashed bananas, or dates (which you can soak in hot water for a few minutes to soften them and make them easier to mix in).
• Lentil and vegetable patties

Updated article : Decembre, 2025.

References :

• INSPQ. (2025). Alimentation et nutrition. Repéré le 16 décembre 2025 à https://www.inspq.qc.ca/mieux-vivre/alimentation-et-nutrition

• Gouvernement du Canada. (2025, 30 octobre): La nutrition du nourrisson né à terme et en santé : Recommandations pour l’enfant âgé de 6 à 24 mois. Repéré le 16 décembre 2025 à https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante-canada/services/guide-alimentaire-canadien/ressources/nutrition-nourrisson-terme-sante/nutrition-nourrisson-terme-sante-recommandations-naissance-six-mois/6-24-mois.html

• Naître et grandir. (2023, juillet). La collation. Repéré le 16 décembre 2025 à https://naitreetgrandir.com/fr/etape/1_3_ans/alimentation/collation/