My child is one. Know what he gets for snacks? Apple slices.  I got my kid hooked on Trader Joe's freeze-dried fruits (dried strawberries, dried blueberries, dried bananas...no additional ingredients) when she was quite young.  She's now 9 years old and they're still her favorite snack; I spend a minimum of $14/week in dried fruit alone. It may not be cheaper than soda and Cheetos, but it's much better for her, and I'll gladly pay the money if it means she's eating well.