We’ve all been there. You’re collecting the kids from school, or playing with them on a rainy day. Suddenly, they pipe up, ‘I’m hungry!’ You don’t want to feed them unhealthy snacks, so what do you do?
Here at Nutrition Smart, the best Pembroke Pines vitamin store, we’re here to help. We’ve compiled some of the best snacks for your kids that are healthy and delicious too! Read on to find recipes that will fill your kids up until dinner time.
1. Sweet Potato Chips
Bags of chips are a staple of the snack food aisle, but they’re something you don’t want to be feeding your kids. They’re so full of oil and fat that they’re not good for anyone! If your kids are craving chips though, there’s always the homemade alternative.
Sweet potato chips are delicious, easy to make, and better for you than you’d think. They’re packed full of vitamins A, B6, and C, as well as folate. When you make them at home, they’re much better for you than the store-bought kind.
All you have to do is thinly slice some sweet potatoes (keep the skins on for extra nutritional value). A mandolin slicer is perfect for this. Then, toss them in a bowl with a little olive oil. Lay the chips out flat on a baking tray, and sprinkle some kosher salt over the top. Bake the chips in the oven until they’re just curling up at the edges, and they’ll be perfect. Delicious chips for next to nothing!
2. Whole Grain Cereal
Whole grain cereal is a versatile snack food that can keep your kids fuller for longer. You’ve got a lot of choice at the supermarket too, so you can pick out the cereal that you know your kids will love.
If you’re in a hurry, you can fill a bowl with some cereal, whole milk, and freshly chopped fruit for an energy boost for your kids. It’s super tasty and takes almost no effort to do. If you want to get creative, yogurt and cereal clusters are perfect for you. They’re easy to pack into a lunch box, or simply keep in the refrigerator for the next snack attack.
To make these snacks, all you need to do is mix up a little natural yogurt with a handful of cereal, and place the mixture in a cupcake liner. Then, you can place them in the freezer until they set, making them a quick and easy treat, no matter what time of day it is.
3. Quesadillas
Quesadillas are tasty no matter how old you are, but as a child-friendly snack, they can’t be beaten. The basic quesadilla is full of tasty and healthy cheese, which is full of calcium to help growing bones. The items you add in though can pack a real nutritional punch.
For example, you can cook bean and cheese quesadillas, which are simple to make and easy for kids to hold. You can add in any leftovers you have, including chopped vegetables, chicken, or even shrimp. It’s a super versatile food that you can tailor to your kids’ tastes.
When you make these, make sure you’re using a chunky veggie salsa to go with it. This is full of more nutrients, such as fiber in the tomatoes. This will help you give your kids an extra helping of health food to go with their snack. Check out Pembroke Pines organic produce stores to get the best food for your kids.
Helping Your Kids Eat Healthily
Kids can be picky eaters, and sometimes you can create all the healthy snacks you like and they still won’t touch it. If you need some help helping your kids eat healthily, don’t worry. Here are some tips that will make them fall in love with fruit and veg:
- Involve your kids: When planning meals or shopping for food, get the kids involved. Bring them to the health food store Pembroke Pines and ask them to keep track of the shopping list. Having that control over what they eat can mean the world to your kids.
- Don’t label food as ‘good’ or ‘bad’: We’re in the habit of thinking of some foods as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, but in reality, food is just food. Some foods just happen to be healthier than others. Don’t pass this on to your kids, instead teach them which foods are healthier, and why.
- Keep healthy food at hand: Keep healthy snack foods available in the house, and minimize unhealthy foods. Having these in your home will make it easier for your kids to eat healthily.
These three recipes are loved by kids, so give them a try the next time you want to give yours a healthy snack. You may even want to grab some yourself!
