When winter weather hits, kids need something warm and comforting at snack time. For younger kids, winter snacks are a helpful way to fuel up in between all the activity that keeps them warm. Older kids may want to help out in the kitchen as you prepare their snacks. This allows them to take advantage of the heat that radiates from a warm stove or oven while they take in the smells of cooking.
Soup
A cup of soup is the ultimate comfort food. However, you shouldn't settle for the high-sodium versions found in the grocery store. Instead, use a slow cooker or large pot and simmer a bag of frozen mixed vegetables, chopped chicken breast and a few handfuls of noodles in low-sodium chicken broth. Serve in a small bowl with a side of fish-shaped crackers.
Oatmeal Cookies
Homemade oatmeal cookies are a kid-friendly, hearty way to satisfy a sweet tooth and provide soluble fiber at the same time. Making oatmeal cookies yourself can ensure that your version isn't as sugar-laden as store cookies can sometimes be. It also gives you a chance to include extra nutrients in the form of dried cranberries or raisins you can mix into the batter.
Sweet Potato
For a quick snack that gives your child a dose of complex carbohydrates to last him an afternoon play session, pierce a medium sweet potato with a fork a few times and toss it in the microwave. After a few minutes of cool down, this beta-carotene-rich snack will be ready to eat. You can wrap the sweet potato in a paper towel so your child can take it with him as he plays or slice it open and top it with cottage cheese, cinnamon, pepper or a spice blend.
Colorful Pasta
Next time you're at the grocery store, buy a bag of tri-colored spiral pasta. These colorful twirls make an excellent snack when you boil and serve them with a topping of pre-made pasta sauce and a sprinkling of shredded mozzarella cheese. The pasta provides complex carbs, while the cheese is high in calcium and the tomato in pasta sauce supplies a healthy dose of lycopene. Another pasta option is to make a mixture of tuna, chopped celery and onions and low-fat mayonnaise and mix that into the cooked pasta as an omega-3 packed version of pasta salad.
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