When kids are young and eating smaller portions than the adults around them, snacks are necessary to provide all the nutrients they require, according to MyPyramid.gov. As children get older, snacks provide energy boosts in a long day. But snacks don't have to be the empty calories of chips, cookies or soda. Plenty of nutritious snacks are both tasty and easy to make, which will satisfy you and your kids.
Veggies and Dip
Pre-cut veggies are faster, but you can also cut up some celery, cucumbers and carrots on your own. For young children, ensure the vegetables are sliced so they are not a choking hazard. Set them out along with some low-fat ranch-flavored dip or salad dressing. Alternately, try flavored hummus dips. You can even spread the hummus in a small pita, add the veggies and let the kids eat it like a sandwich.
Peanut Butter Treats
Peanut butter is full of protein and makes an excellent energy-boosting snack when spread on whole-grain crackers. It also goes well with fruit and vegetables: dab it on apple slices, smear it on a celery stick or spread it on a piece of whole-grain toast and top it with banana slices.
Cheese on Anything
Low-fat cheese has lots of protein and calcium as well. Kids love string cheese, cottage cheese, cream cheese, American cheese---the list goes on. Give them a small bowl of cottage cheese and let them scoop it up with whole-grain crackers, or a bowl of cottage cheese mixed with applesauce. Cream cheese on a celery stick is a good option if your child is allergic to peanut butter. Melt some cheese on a whole wheat tortilla and slice it like a pizza---top it with some turkey pepperoni for extra pizzazz.
Fruit and Yogurt
Whip up a smoothie in the blender with low-fat milk and yogurt, fruit and ice. Use bananas or frozen strawberries, raspberries, blueberries or peaches. For a special treat, blend in a few semi-sweet chocolate chips. Or, rather than a smoothie, let the kids dip graham crackers into vanilla yogurt, either with or without fruit mixed into it.
Trail Mix and Granola
Make an easy trail mix for your kids with a healthy oat, graham or granola breakfast cereal. Add some dried cranberries or raisins, sunflower seeds and a few pretzel sticks. Mix some granola into low-fat yogurt for another crunchy-sweet, healthy snack.
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