Got a picky eater? Grab my free picky eating starter guide now! »

mama knows nutrition art and logo

High Fiber Foods for Toddlers

Fiber is so important for toddlers- you don’t want to overlook it! It can help regulate their blood sugar and it helps gets things moving if they’re constipated, so it’s important that they get enough of it. Just like for adults, there are supplements and fiber boosters for kids out there, but it’s always best that they get their fiber from real, healthy foods.

So, today I’m sharing the best high fiber foods for toddlers! I’ll touch on fiber requirements, how to increase fiber in your child’s diet, plus I’ll share my favorite high fiber snack and meal ideas for toddlers, all in one place!

Whether you’re just being proactive and looking for high fiber foods for toddlers, or you know your child needs more fiber so you’re doing your due diligence, this post has you covered. It’s chock full of great info and food ideas, so be sure to Pin this one for future reference!

Toddler Fiber Needs

First of all, it’s important to know how much fiber your toddler needs each day. As a rule of thumb:

Children 1-3 years need at least 14 grams of fiber per day
Children 4-8 years need at least 16-19 grams of fiber per day

If you’re used to reading labels and keeping tabs on the different nutrients in your child’s diet, you might already know that your child needs more fiber. But if you’re not sure, you can also think about their digestion– if your child gets constipated often, there’s a good chance they might need more fiber in their diet.

P.S.: If your little one is struggling with constipation, check out this post for foods to choose and foods to avoid. There are also tips for picky eaters and how to get some constipation-fighting foods in them!

If your baby is under 1 year old:

Babies do not need as much fiber, and too much can be hard on their system. You don’t have to avoid fiber, just go easy on the whole grains and know that it’s okay to serve lower fiber options more often to baby.

Increasing Fiber in Your Toddler’s Diet

My biggest tip: increase your child’s fiber intake slowly!

It can take time for your toddler’s body to adjust to the change. Try adding just one serving of a fiber-rich food a day at first, then increasing the number of servings after a few days.

Toddler-Friendly Fiber Sources

High Sources (with at least 5g fiber per serving)

  • Beans
  • Green peas
  • Lentils
  • Chickpeas
  • Bran or Shredded Wheat cereal
  • Broccoli
  • Dates
  • Pears
  • Prunes
  • Raspberries
  • Spinach
  • Whole wheat flour
  • Whole wheat pasta
  • Chickpea or lentil pasta like Banza (affiliate link!)

Good Sources (usually around 2 to 4.9 g per serving)

  • Nuts (Make sure to finely chop, grind, or serve as nut butter for toddlers!)
    • Almonds
    • Pecans
    • Peanuts
    • Pistachios
  • Chia seeds (You can sprinkle these on almost anything! I always add ground chia to oatmeal and peanut butter sandwiches.)
  • Ground flaxseed
  • Cheerios
  • Oatmeal
  • Apples (skin on; shred or finely slice apples for toddler)
  • Applesauce (Check the nutrition facts- not all have fiber. I like GoGo Squeez)
  • Avocado
  • Bananas
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Carrots
  • Corn
  • Figs
  • Oranges
  • Potatoes (baked with skin on)
  • Raisins
  • Strawberries
  • Brown rice
  • Whole wheat bread

    Toddler-Friendly High Fiber Recipes


    Secretly Healthy Chocolate Pudding


    No Sugar Added Baked Oatmeal Bars


    Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Bars


    5 Ingredient No-Bake Nut Butter Bars

    8 Fiber-Rich Snack Ideas for Toddlers

    1. Applesauce with a tablespoon of almond butter stirred in, sprinkled with cinnamon
    2. Raspberries stuffed with a chocolate chip in each (The chocolate doesn’t have fiber, it just tastes good!)
    3. Yogurt with strawberries
    4. Raisins and freeze-dried apple slices
    5. Whole grain pita slices with edamame hummus
    6. Refried beans on a whole wheat tortilla
    7. Harvest Snaps Lightly Salted Pea Crisps
    8. Hippeas puffs

    Sample Day Meeting Fiber Needs:

    healthy day of toddler eats breakfast lunch dinner and snacks

    Fiber count:

    Breakfast – 8.5g fiber: ⅓ cup oatmeal 5g, banana 2g, ½ oz crushed pecans 1.5g
    AM Snack – 2g fiber: Dragon Bar 2g
    Lunch – 6.5g fiber: 1 oz chopped cashews 1g, sliced pepper and celery 2g, ½ orange 1.5g, Made Good Chocolate Chip Granola Minis 2g
    PM Snack – 4g fiber: Banana muffin from No Sugar, Still Sweet 4g
    Dinner – 4g fiber: Spaghetti 1g, tomato sauce 1g, ¼ cup mixed veggies 2g

    Daily total: 25g fiber

    Want More Posts Like This? Subscribe Below!

    2 Comments

    Leave a Reply

    Avatar placeholder

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Kacie Barnes holding an apple
    Hi, I’m Kacie!

    I’m a mom of two and a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. I offer e-guides and e-books (go to my Shop page), workshops, brand partnerships, and nutrition counseling. Check out my blog for nutrition and feeding tips for your little ones.

    Disclaimer:

    This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    More on the Blog

    Search the Site

    Search