If you have an active child, or one who seems to regularly fish in the refrigerator for something to eat, it's helpful to have on hand some easy snacks that are also healthy. Snacking is a natural part of growing, notes Healthy Children, the American Academy of Pediatrics website. Often growing bodies require more calories than can be consumed in three meals. Besides simply assuaging hunger, healthy snacks help children grow healthy habits as well.
Fruits and Vegetables
Keep cut-up fruits and vegetables in the fridge for easy access. Sliced carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, apples, grape clusters, melon, broccoli and cauliflower are all healthy, filling and stuffed with vitamins and minerals. They are also relatively inexpensive and mean that your kids get an easy serving of fruits or vegetables while snacking.
Dips
Many kids like to add flavor to their snack. Hummus is a particularly good choice for both vegetables and easy snacks such as breadsticks or pretzels. It's filled with protein, which helps stabilize blood sugar, and comes in a number of flavors to please the kids. Similarly, bean dip or guacamole adds flavor with a healthy serving of fiber and vitamins. Keep baked tortilla chips, plain tortillas or breadsticks on hand to make these dips a kid favorite.
Smoothies
While smoothies require a bit more preparation, they are ideal for older kids who are on the go to sports or study. Mix some frozen fruit, such as raspberries or strawberries, or a fresh banana with a serving of vanilla, plain or fruited yogurt. If your child is particularly hungry, or if practice coincides with mealtime, add in some protein powder to help the snack keep your child full. Toss this all into a blender and modify the mix as your child prefers. The yogurt contains calcium and protein to keep hunger at bay and the fruit adds fiber as well as vitamins.
Baked Goods
If you keep cookies in the house, notes Healthy Children, then that's what your kids will eat. If your children love baked goods, but you want to ensure they eat healthy foods, cook up some pumpkin muffins or oatmeal raisin cookies. While these both still have sugar, you can control the amount by baking it yourself. In addition, you can modify the recipe to use whole wheat flour and applesauce to cut down the calories and increase the fiber to help keep these baked options healthy for your kids.
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