Growing kids often get hungry between meals. So parents need to have healthy, accessible snacks ready for their children after school.
Snack time is a great opportunity to sneak extra nutrients into your child’s diet.
Many packaged snacks for kids are extremely unhealthy. They’re often full of refined flour, added sugars, and artificial ingredients. Instead of highly processed snack foods, fill your child’s tummy with whole foods that will provide energy and nutrition. Suggestions include: banana muffins, watermelon slices, carrot sticks, hummus and pita chips, unsweetened applesauce cups and natural fruit roll ups, yogurt and granola, bananas and whole wheat goldfish crackers, and trail mix.
This is also an opportunity to prepare healthy snacks with your children. They can decide what to put in their trail mix, or make no-bake chocolate banana energy balls or cinnamon raisin energy bites. Make muffins ahead and freeze them for quick snacks any time. Serve Bran Muffin Bites after school with a piece of fruit and a cold glass of milk for a balanced, filling snack. These are healthy and super tasty snacks that you can be creative making with your child.
Be mindful to have simple snacks available in the home that take no preparation time. These include: apples, bananas, grapes, carrot sticks, turkey slices, string cheese, and berries.
These healthy snacks provide energy and help support growth and muscle development.
Try not to have chips, candy, and soda available as options for snack time so you are encouraging and promoting healthy choices for your children. And always remember, parents are role models for their children so watch what you snack on and choose to drink.
