Healthy snack foods, tasty alternatives to sugary, processed snacks

When you’re a kid the time between lunch and dinner can seem endless.

Kids want something yummy to tide them over between meals.

But parents want kids to eat healthy nutritious snacks that won’t leave them too full for dinner.

Three Keys to Fun Healthy Kid Snacks:

1. Timing: Allow at least two to three hours between snacks and meals.

2. Amount: The shorter the amount of time before the next meal the lighter the snack should be.

3. Content: Avoid highly processed, sugary foods in favor of whole grains, fresh fruits, and veggies, and proteins such as nuts, dairy cheese (non-dairy cheese does not usually have much nutritional value), and plain yogurt, dairy or non-dairy. The protein will help keep kids’ blood sugar levels steady between meals.

If you are transitioning your kids from sugary processed snack foods to healthy nutritious snack foods, keep in mind that it will take many exposures before a child will decide that they like a new food. Hungry kids are often more willing to try new foods.

If your kids are really resistant to new foods keep feeding them the same snack foods as before but in much smaller quantities so that your kids will be hungry for the healthy meal that you serve later.

Be persistent and patient and your children will be eating healthy snacks before you know it!

Healthy snack recipes for satisfied kids & parents!

Whole Grain Muffins:

Turn your favorite muffin recipes into healthy muffin recipes by substituting whole wheat pastry flour for half to all of the white flour or reducing the sugar by 1/4 to 1/2.

Or try these sweet and healthy muffin recipes:

Sweet Potato Muffins ^[1]
Apple Raisin Spice Muffins ^[2]

Raw Vegetables and Dip:

Even kids who turn their noses up at cooked vegetables will happily nosh on the same veggies served raw. A plate of raw veggies and a healthy dip will keep hungry kids out of your hair while you cook dinner.

Try raw carrots, bell peppers, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, snow peas, and other veggies dipped in hummus ^[3], vegan sour cream dip ^[4], or
Vegan Sour Cream mixed with Vegan Basil Pesto. ^[5]

Fresh Fruit/Veggies and Nuts or Nut Butters:

Ants on a log, apple slices and peanut butter, and banana slices and almond butter are classic, fun, healthy kid snacks. Serve other fresh fruits sliced or as part of an Easy Fruit Salad. ^[6] Serve with a small handful of raw almonds, walnuts, or cashews for a protein boost.

Whole Grain Crackers or Rice Cakes With:

Look for crackers that are high in whole grains and low in fat, salt, and sugar. Serve them with tasty toppings like hummus ^[7], nut butter, or cheese.

Plain Dairy or Non-Dairy Yogurt with a Little Maple Syrup or Agave:

Flavored yogurts contain large amounts of sugar; serving plain yogurts allows you to control the amount of sweetness while getting protein and pro-biotics into your kids.

Related Posts

^[8]Vegetarian School Lunch Ideas ^[8]

^[9]10 Ways to Love Your Veggies and Eat Them Too ^[9]

^[10]Kid Friendly Healthy Diet for Food Allergies ^[10]

^[11]A Weekly Menu Plan for Vegetarian Kid Friendly Meals ^[11]