"Don't forget to put a snack in your backpack, you have practice after school." Or "Remind me it's our turn to bring snacks for the team on Saturday." Sound familiar? With kids on the go so much, it's important to have quick, healthy snacks. Children need a healthy energy boost and it needs to be done without much time or hassle.
A box of doughnuts sure would be easier, wouldn't it? Perhaps, but it wouldn't be healthier. There are many healthy snacks that don't take too long to prepare nor too long to consume. Below are several snack ideas for you.
When thinking of snacks for your child, remember to consider the time of year. Frozen juice pops are a fun refreshing snack, but not likely very appreciated if it's windy and cold out! However, for warmer months, keep snacks cold in an ice filled cooler.
Lots of liquids are important, especially if your child is involved with sports. Freeze juice boxes and water bottles for an ice cold, fluid replacement - contrary to belief that freezing water bottles causes a toxic reaction. If you've heard that warning before, it was simply an urban legend – not true.
Fruit is a simple snack that meets the quick and easy requirement. Grab a half peck of applies, a couple bunches of bananas and some clusters of grapes and you're good to go.
Someone thought of the excellent idea of making snack sized zip lock baggies. These are the perfect size to fill with trail mix. One variation of this recipe is to mix pretzels, walnuts, almonds and raisins. Some prefer to mix m&m chocolate candies, peanuts, almonds and dried banana chips. Any combination of nuts and fruit works great.
Mini muffins are always a big hit. Bake some blueberry or banana nut muffins, and then toss a couple muffins into a zip lock baggie for a tasty, quick snack to go.
With a small time investment, you can whip up some nutritious granola bars. Add oatmeal, sunflower seeds, almonds, wheat germ, honey, vanilla, and dried fruit such as apricots, cherries or blueberries. Make a pan or two, slice them, bag them and serve them up!
Also if you have the time, make some turkey wraps. Each wrap consists of a couple slices of turkey and an optional slice of cheese wrapped inside of a piece of lettuce. Kids are a little skeptical of them at first, but after one bite they'll be hooked. These too need to stay in a cooler.
If you're schedule isn't going to permit you to do much baking and preparation then the grocery store offers many snack options. String cheese, cucumber slices or portable individual servings of yogurt kept in the cooler are healthy snacks.
Head over to the bulk food section to find trail mix, nuts, dried fruit, and individual packets of crackers and cheese or pretzels and peanut butter. It's very convenient to pack healthy snacks. Sweet potato chips or rice chips are much healthier than their popular friend, the potato chip. They taste great too; you just need to give kids the opportunity to try them. Besides, if they're hungry enough they'll eat just about anything!
Sometimes you may not come up with something as healthy as you would like while keeping in mind the quick and convenient requirement. Although if you can merely avoid harmful junk food snacks, you're doing a great service to your child.
Written my Stacie Mahoe |
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