Kids love snacking between meals, before bed and on the go. The constant little hungry voices can easily temp a parent to buy convenience snacks. Snacks like chips, cookies and fruit snacks are usually full of salt, chemicals, corn syrup and other undesirable ingredients. Homemade snacks can be easy to prepare for the adult and full of valuable nutrients that will help kids feel great.
Step 1
Freeze homemade Popsicles for a cold treat full of vitamin c, calcium and potassium. In a blender, start with 8 oz. of a cultured, plain, organic yogurt like Nancy's brand. Add 1 cup of any type berry or a mix of berries, 1 banana and honey to sweeten, around 2 tbsp. Blend until smooth, then transfer into your favorite Popsicle mold, or paper cups with Popsicle sticks. Freeze overnight. This is a fun recipe to play around with and can be adapted to suit taste buds. Mango is a great replacement for the berries.
Step 2
Make avocado toast. It may sound strange, but most kids will love the creamy, smooth taste of a good avocado paired with crispy toast. Avocados contain nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, plus healthy fats that will give a child lasting energy. Use a whole grain, local bread that contains no corn syrup. Simply toast the bread, mash the avocado, spread onto bread and cut into 4 triangles.
Step 3
Prepare fruit kabobs for older kids. Toddlers and pointy wooden skewers can equal the ever dreaded poked out eyes. To make, simply skewer on kids favorite fruits. Great choices are cantaloupe and honeydew melon, and berries like strawberries and raspberries. Serve alone, or with a dipping sauce of organic, cultured yogurt like Nancy's brand mixed with a bit of honey.
Step 4
Pop some popcorn with nutritional yeast for a great alternative to crackers or chips. Popcorn is a whole grain, and when popped in an air popper, it is low fat and healthy. After it pops, sprinkle with a tiny amount of melted butter, then liberally add nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeast is an excellent source of protein, amino acids, B-complex vitamins and folic acid. It has a creamy, almost cheese-like flavor, and can be bought in bulk at any health food store.
Things You'll Need
- Popsicles:
- Blender
- 8 oz. yogurt
- 1 cup berries
- 1 banana
- 2 tbsp. honey
- Popsicle mold
- Avocado toast:
- 1 slice whole grain bread
- 1/2 avocado
- Fruit kabobs:
- Wooden skewers
- Fruit assortment
- Popcorn with nutritional yeast:
- Air popper
- 2 tbsp. butter
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
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