You may often be shocked at how much your kids want to eat. Even after they have had a main meal, they may still ask if they can have a snack. For many kids, that may mean looking longingly at the cookie jar, but these kinds of snacks are high in sugar and salt, which aren’t great for your kids.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with snacking in-between meal times, but it needs to be carefully managed and fulfill their daily nutritional needs. Here are some ideas on healthy snacks for children which are delicious, nutritious, and friendly on the food budget.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
Fruit and vegetables are one of the best snack foods available and should be introduced into your kiddies daily eating plan as soon as possible.
To liven things up, you can also combine fruit slices with yogurt or some homemade dips. Apples and carrots are great for dunking in dips!
Always keep a fruit bowl readily available for your kids to help themselves throughout the day.
Pita Wraps
A snack which takes no time is making healthy wraps. All you need is some pita bread, vegetables, and hummus. You can even get older kids to help prepare them by leaving a selection of toppings on the side.
Nuts, Grains, And Seeds
Kids need a lot of energy as they develop, and one of the best energy sources is healthy fat. Nuts, grains, and seeds have this in abundance, and there are so many ways you can integrate them into your kid’s diet.
Unsalted and unsweetened popcorn is a very healthy snack, while nuts contain a lot of fiber and antioxidants. Other grains such as chia and bran can be used to make super healthy muffins and energy balls.
Smoothies
Making your own smoothies can be a great substitute for sugary drinks and candy. You can mix up any of your kid’s favorite fruits, and even add raw cacao powder with a sweet, nutritious and energy-boosting drink, which will also fill them up for a couple of hours.
Cookies and Vegetable Chips
If your kiddies really like cookies and chips, then why not make your own at home. This is a fun way to create healthy alternatives and get your kiddies involved in the baking process.
You use many different kinds of vegetables to make your own chips, such as beetroot, kale, sweet potato, zucchini, and carrot.
Homemade cookies are also a great option as a sweet treat. Using bananas and oatmeal, or even chickpeas, you can create a lovely snack that your kiddies are going to love.
Dairy
Calcium is a vital nutrient for the healthy growth of bones, and one of the best sources of it is in dairy products. Cottage cheese, fresh cheese slices, and hardboiled eggs are all simple snacks which can be combined with pita bread and fruit slices to give your kids a nutritious snack.