Snacking can be such an important part of a child's nutritional intake that for some parents, it has become known as a fourth meal. According to the Disney Family Fun website, a fourth of the calories kids eat come from snacks. Making snacks healthy helps increase your child's intake of valuable nutrients and provides him with a healthy source of energy to carry him through the day.
Edamame Spread
Edamame spread can be a healthy, kid-friendly snack. Follow the instructions on the packaging to cook a package of edamame, or soy beans, that have been already removed from the shell. Once cooked, drain the soy beans of excess water and place them in a blender. Add 1/2 cup of peeled avocado to the blender, along with one medium chopped tomato. Add in your child's favorite seasoning, such as garlic or cayenne pepper. Then, blend everything together until you have achieve a creamy mixture. Serve the spread as a dip for vegetables and whole-grain crackers or use it to flavor a snack-sized sandwich. Edamame is loaded with protein and the avocado adds a healthy amount of unsaturated fats to this snack.
Whole-Grain Frozen Waffles
Not all frozen waffles are the same. When looking for a healthy snack for children, choose varieties made with whole grains. Keep whole grain waffles on hand in your freezer for an easy-to-serve healthy snack. Use peanut butter, low-calorie syrup, whole fruit slices or blended berries as a healthy alternative to high-calorie syrup or butter. These frozen waffle snacks will help your children get the fiber they need. Also, if you choose waffles made with flaxseed, you increase your child's intake of omega-3 fatty acids.
Vegetable Soup
Canned vegetable soups are a fast, nutritionally dense food to serve to children at snack-time. Choose canned vegetable soups made with broth or tomato juice. Avoid soups made with creams or cheese; these are higher in unnecessary calories and fat. At snack-time, warm up the soup and serve. Provide a side of whole-grain crackers with the soup so your children can add in a crunch.
Whole-Grain Noodles
Many children enjoy butter-covered noodles, but this is not a nutritionally rich snack. To make this snack healthy, use whole-grain noodles instead of noodles made with refined grains. Cover the cooked noodles with olive oil or melted trans fat-free margarine, as a replacement for butter. Serve your child a snack-size serving to enjoy. According to PBS, a healthy serving size is equal to 1 tbsp. of food for every year of your child's age. By making this snack with whole-grain noodles, you provide your child with a rich amount of protein and fiber.
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