Kids love having fun with their food. To make snacks fun for your kids, let them be a part of the choice. Let them pick out the vegetables they want, or maybe even help you prepare the snack. Keep junk food out of the house, so your children aren't tempted to eat it. Make eating healthy snacks fun instead of a sacrifice.
Fruit
Fresh, canned and dried fruits make a healthy snack choice for children. Make fruit smoothies with low-fat yogurt or milk as a treat now and then. Serve your children cut-up fruit with a little bit of peanut butter or low-fat yogurt to add a little variety. You can even cut small cubes of low-fat cheese and pair it with grapes or apples. Give your children 100 percent fruit juice once a day for a treat, as it is high in sugar and calories. Fruit salad is another colorful and healthy snack idea.
Veggies
According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, "eating fruits and vegetables lowers the risk of heart disease, cancer and high blood pressure." Make vegetables a fun snack for your kids by slicing a variety of colors for your kids. Let them munch on baby carrots or serve some low-fat ranch dressing with the vegetables to add some flavor. Vegetables that go well with dip include celery, carrots, peppers, zucchini, cucumbers and broccoli. Add peanut butter to celery and top it with raisins to make "ants on a log."
Grains
Grains are high in fiber, which will help your children feel fuller longer. Serve a snack of low-fat yogurt topped with granola or low-fat whole grain cereals with low-fat milk, optionally with fresh fruit. Cut up whole wheat pitas and toast them as a crunchy snack, or serve the pitas soft and top them with hummus. Cut up whole wheat tortillas and bake them as an alternative to chips. Serve them with salsa if your children like it. Granola bars make an excellent to-go snack.
Nuts
Nuts are a healthy snack for kids that are high in protein. Nuts are also high in fat, so only give your children a handful as a snack. Some smart choices include almonds, walnuts, peanuts, cashews or even roasted soy nuts. Toasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds are a nice variation from nuts.
References
- Center for Science in the Public Interest: Healthy School Snacks
- Healthy South Carolina Challenge: Dr. Ann's Top Picks of the Healthiest Snacks for Kids
- Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine: Healthy Snacks For Kids
- KidsHealth from Nemours: Snacks for Preschoolers
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: Fun Family Recipes & Tips
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