Many elementary schools provide time for your child to eat a snack. Snacks are important because they recharge your child for the rest of the school day and also supply the nutrients she needs to perform well in the classroom. You can help your child get the most from her snack break by packing her healthy snacks that are simple to prepare and easy to eat. Amy Wilensky notes in her book, "Knack Healthy Snacks for Kids: Recipes for Nutritious Bites at Home Or On the Go," that involving your child in the preparation process encourages her to eat her snack and teaches her about healthy eating habits.
Crackers and String Cheese
A few crackers and a piece of string cheese will supply your child with calcium, fiber and protein, which each contribute to a healthy body. These same nutrients give your child energy and prevent hunger so he can concentrate on what he is learning. Putting crackers in a reusable container with an individually packaged string cheese only takes a few seconds, making this snack an easy one for you to prepare. Choose whole wheat crackers because they have more fiber and low-fat string cheese to prevent your child from eating too much saturated fat.
Olives with Carrots
Black or green olives are a nutritious snack that supply healthy unsaturated fats for continual energy. Carrots are a healthy accompaniment that provide your child with fiber and vitamin A. Jeannette Bessinger and Tracee Yablon-Brenner, authors of "Simple Food for Busy Families: The Whole Life Nutrition Approach," suggest slicing baby carrots into thin strips and stuffing them into pitted olives for a healthy and quick snack. Rinse the olives to remove some of the added salt, fill with carrots and pack in a reusable container. Six or seven olives is a good portion size for a filling snack.
Rice Cakes with Hummus
Rice cakes are a low-fat snack food that many children enjoy because they can eat several without going overboard with calories. Bessinger and Yablon-Brenner suggest serving brown rice cakes with hummus to increase the fiber and protein in your child's snack. Spread hummus on one rice cake and top with another as a quick and easy way to serve this snack. If your child enjoys the taste of cucumber or tomato slices, they can be added to increase the vitamin content of the snack.
Sweet Tortilla Sandwich
A whole wheat tortilla is another nutritious snack food that supplies fiber and protein. If your child enjoys sweet foods, use a whole wheat tortilla to make a kid-pleasing snack that is simple to prepare and easy to take along to school. Spread a tortilla with a small amount of butter or reduced-fat cream cheese. Sprinkle with cinnamon and warm for a few seconds in the microwave. Slice into small wedges and place in a reusable snack container.
References
- "Knack Healthy Snacks for Kids: Recipes for Nutritious Bites at Home Or On the Go"; Amy Wilensky; 2010
- "Simple Food for Busy Families: The Whole Life Nutrition Approach"; Jeannette Bessinger and Tracee Yablon-Brenner; 2009
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