Super Simple Snacks That Are Fun (& Healthy!)
Snacks have become an expected ‘treat’ for kids 30 seconds after they finish meal or go anywhere for more than 5 minutes. Pack your kids up for a date at the park, the doctors, or the neighbours and before you can get settled they will be asking for a snack!
Somewhere along the road to raising busy active kids and factoring in busy working parents schedules, snacks turned into packaged processed treats and water got sent to the sidelines to be replaced with sugar filled ‘juice’ boxes or artificially coloured ‘punch’ in a pouch.
These low nutrient, high sugar options are not healthy choices for our growing active kids! With a bit of planning and a tiny amount of effort we can give kids a snack that will replenish their energy stores and keep them satisfied until the next meal time without it being just another sugar fix.
A simple apple will give the kids vitamins, fiber and natural sugar without the added chemicals from artificial colours and flavours found in packaged goods.
You might be surprised to learn that kids love healthy snacks.
There are lots of healthy snack idea’s but these are our favorite super simple snacks that will keep the kids going to at the park.
Watermelon cubes & grapes . . . frozen!
This summer don’t fill your freezer with frozen popsicles or watermelon and grapes from the freezer!
Fruit Kebobs
Fruit is transformed from ‘fine’ to ‘funtastic’ when it’s on a stick! Watermelon, strawberries, grapes, apples and cantaloupe all make great fruit kebobs and only take a second to prepare.
Festive Fruit Water
Buy a clear jug and fill it with strawberries, blueberries, lemon slices and lime wedges then fill with ice water. Who wouldn’t want to try that after a hot game of neighbourhood hop scotch? The longer it sits, the more the flavours will come out.
Bananas Boats
Cut bananas in half lengthwise and top with non peanut soy spread (like Wow Butter) and add a few chocolate chips. Kids get all the energy boosting benefits from the banana, protein from the soy butter and a sweet treat from the chocolate chips.
Munchie Mix
Throw together some healthy dry cereal you have on hand, dried fruit and the odd mini M&M for a bowl of snacks everyone will crowd around. High fibre, low sugar cereals such as wheat squares, toasty o’s and corn squares combined with dried apricots, cherries, cranberries or blueberries and a few coloured chocolates for fun, makes a healthy munchie mix sure to please a crowd.
Be the snack super star this summer by bringing the kids fruit served in a fun new way, just adding a stick and serving it as a kebob brings new life to boring fruit! You will be amazed at how much kids enjoy eating healthy snacks!
Deb Lowther is a mother of 3 young daughters who, when not running after the kids, is running in the trails! She blogs on dozens of websites about Raising Healthy Kids and ensures her own have fun while eating healthy & staying active. To read more articles and see her favorite recipes starring squash and spinach that she promises even your kids will love, visit her websites www.iron-kids.com & www.adultgummies.com or visit her on Twitter @KidsGummyMum or Facebook at IronKids.Health and Adult Essentials.
