Toss out the junk food and start making snack time fun again! See how these 20 kid-friendly ingredients can turn into healthy homemade snacks. Try the low calorie snack recipes that will keep your kids happy and healthy.
In no particular order…
1. Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Source: parenting.com
Soft, tasty, and so much better for you than regular french fries. These tasty little treats pack all the goodness and nutrients of sweet potatoes, and are super easy to make.
2. Hummus
Source: foodess.com
Chickpeas never tasted so good. Made from said chickpeas pureed, it’s a fantastic dip idea or even as a spread for sandwiches. It’s nutty in flavor, thick and contains nutrients such as folate, vitamin B6 and iron.
3. Juice Jelly Cubes
Source: parenting.com
Want to give your kids the jelly treats they ask for, without using store bought, artificially laden jelly packets?
“The trick is to use a juice with ingredients you approve of and set it in a plain gelatin. These cubes are not only healthier, but they’re also just as easy to make as the boxed stuff.” – parenting.com
- 2 cups of your kid’s favorite juice (used grape and grapefruit in the photo)
- 2 packets of unflavored gelatin
- 1 tablespoon sugar or honey (optional)
Pour 1/2 cup of juice in a bowl and sprinkle gelatin over it. While this sits, heat the remaining juice to boil (can do this in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes). Pour hot juice over juice and gelatin mixture and stir, adding in extra sugar if desired. Pour mixture into the bottom of a loaf pan and chill for three hours, or until firm. Cut into squares.
Recipe from Deb Perelman at Smitten Kitchen.
4. Smoothies
Source: parents.com
The great thing about smoothies is that you can essentially mask a heck of a lot of healthy nutritious ingredients, into one tasty drink. Use things like non fat vanilla yoghurt, pure juices and a banana to add in thickness. Add in all the fruits and variations that you want, and this will be a great way to get the daily fruit and fiber needs of your child looked after.
5. Eggs
Source: memes.com
That’s right, the original kind, not the chocolate variety! A single egg has one third the daily protein requirements for a 4-year-old.
“Keep a bunch of hard-boiled eggs in the fridge (they last for seven days), or scramble an egg and roll it up in a flour tortilla.” – www.parents.com
6. Oatmeal
Source: parenting.com
How about some oatmeal cookies for snack time? Forget the store brand, high fat and high sugar varieties, when there’s a plethora of healthy Oatmeal Cookies about. Add in whatever ingredients you like, such as cranberries, raisins or nuts…
7. Peanut Butter
Source: parents.com
Nothing wrong with a little peanut butter in your diet! Apart from being delicious, it packs protein and fiber, and is so versatile. You can make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or mix it with yoghurt and raspberries for a frozen treat!
8. Snack Mixes
Source: images.google.com
Now this is an easy one, simply mix together a combo pr ingredients that you desire, such as cereals, dried fruits, popcorn, pretzels and a combination of different nuts, even a little dark chocolate for an added surprise. Delicious and great for you!
9. Spice Roasted Carrots
Source: superhealthykids.com
Carrots are so packed full of nutritional value, that you just can’t get enough of them, the only problem is, getting kids to consume steamed carrots or even raw carrots can be a chore. These spiced roasted carrots make light work of that problem, the only problem now is stopping yourself from eating them all and leaving some for the kids!
10. Avocado Dip
Source: taste.com.au
Avocados are simply great for you. Packed full of healthy fats, the added benefit of an avocado dip is that you can add in almost anything such as tomatoes, and using fruits such as carrots, to be the instruments of dipping! Check out this simple yet great recipe!
Sources:
www.parents.com
www.parenting.com
www.superhealthykids.com
www.taste.com.au
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