Healthy (Yet Inexpensive) After School Snack Ideas
As a mom, I work hard to ensure that my kids eat healthy. I know that we don't always hit our goal 100% of the time -but the point is that we are trying! Here are a few simple, easy and CLEVER ideas to help your kids eat something that is good for them. Don't worry - your secret is safe with me!
Something that you can do to make things simpler for yourself is to place serving sized snacks into small reusable containers or even Ziploc bags (which I reuse) and place them into a basket in our pantry. When it is snack time, my kids can go into the pantry or the fridge and pick out what they want to eat. Makes life easier for sure.
Check out these easy (and fun) snack ideas for your kids:
Ants on a Log: This is a classic. Wash and slice celery and fill them with peanut butter (or you can use Cheeze Sauce) and top with raisins. You can even use other dried fruits if you wish to add a variety of flavors.
Fruit Cut Outs: I have set of mini cookie cutters that I can use to cut shapes out of all sorts of things. One idea is to slice various fruits (kiwi, apples, pears, peaches) thinly - and then use small cookie cutters and cut them out into fun shapes. The kids think they are eating a star and don't know it is good for them.
Silly Snack Faces: Take rice cakes and spread cream cheese, peanut butter, cheese sauce or another spread. Provide your child with raisins to use eyes, apple strips to serve as a mouth, grated carrots to use as hair, etc. You spread them and let your child do the rest. The kids love to get creative and have fun before they gobble down their snack!
K-Bobs: What kid doesn't love to play with their food? Take popsicle sticks (safer than skewers) and cut up various fruits into cubes. Help your child thread them onto the k-bob. Give them some yummy caramel dip or cream cheese for them to dip them into.
Yogurt Parfaits: Take some fun cups (try the Dollar Store to find some fun ones that can be your parfait cups) and layer in yogurt (I purchase large containers of plain) and then fruit with another layer of yogurt and fruit. Top with nuts, granola or even chocolate Chips. Yummy!!!
Gorp: This is one that we had when I was growing up. Purchase various nuts, raisins, dried fruits, granola and some M&Ms. Pour equal amounts of each item into a large bowl. Cover and shake.
Oh - and one thing I want to be sure to mention is before you send something to school or daycare, you do need to be careful as there are so many children who have allergies to foods (such as peanuts). So, if you are unsure of allergies, be sure that you always check with your school/daycare provider before sending any snacks along with your child.
Anything you can do to make eating fun can help instill good, healthy eating habits in your children. Enjoy!