Healthy Snacks for Kids

Snacks, especially in the afternoon, should be a part of every child's balanced diet. However, unhealthy snacks can increase the risk of childhood obesity. Though it's easy to equate snacks with junk food, it need not always be true. You have a wide variety of choice when it comes to making healthy snacks for kids. Prepare your snacks in a way that your kids derive the optimum amount of proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins out of them. If your kids love fruits, make a delicious pudding with apple, banana and strawberry slices. In the same way, if your kids cringe at the sight of vegetables, dress up carrots, celery or broccoli in a low-fat dip. More on healthy snacks.

Some Healthy Snack Ideas

Though there is a never-ending list of healthy snack for kids, here is an attempt to include a few of them.

• Apple slices with butter
• Tortilla chips with dip
• Bread sticks with hummus dip
• Chunks of raw vegetables with dip
• Dried fruits, raisins and nuts
• Whole grain breads or crackers with fruit spread
• Rice cakes with peanut butter
• Slices of cucumber, carrot and avocado with creamy dip
• Baked chips, popcorn and pretzels
• Yogurt, pudding and homemade fruit smoothie

Fun Healthy Snacks for Kids

You should take care that the snacks you serve to your kids are as healthy as the meals you prepare. Use the same guidelines to plan the snacks, as you go for meal planning. This will ensure that your kids consume enough nutrients in each delicious bite. Ask your kids to vote for their favorite fruits and vegetables. Kids love just about anything they can dip their fingers into. A plate full of carrot, bell pepper slices and tomatoes will disappear in no time, if there's a hummus or a been dip to go with it. Whole wheat crackers and baked tortilla chips are also healthy and delicious accompaniment for applesauce or sweet cream dips. Most kids love eating frozen snacks. Frozen grapes, bananas and strawberries topped with fresh cream make healthy as well as indulgently delicious fruit trifle. Watch them go bananas for frozen bananas coated in chopped nuts and sweet chocolate syrup. You can make fruits, vegetables and even whole grains attractive to your kids with some tried and tested recipes. Try out these healthy snack recipes and watch your kids look forward to their snacks time. More on quick snack recipes.

Healthy Snack Ideas: Recipes

Healthy Snacks for Kids # 1: Cheesy Popcorn
Ingredients

• 4 cups hot air-popped popcorn
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• Cayenne pepper, to taste

Preparation

Toss popcorn with Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle a dash of Cayenne pepper and serve.

Number of Servings: 4

Healthy Snacks for Kids # 2: Tomato Tossle
Ingredients

• 1/3 cup tomato, chopped
• 2 tbsp mozzarella cheese, grated
• 1 fresh basil leaf
• 1/2 tsp olive oil
• 1/4 tsp granulated sugar
• 1 bread slice, toasted
• Garlic powder and salt

Preparation

Combine all the ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Sprinkle salt and garlic powder. Cut the toast into 4 equal pieces. Drain the juice and spoon equal amount of tomato mixture over the toast pieces. Serve.

Number of Servings: 4

Healthy Snacks for Kids # 3: Peanut Butter Balls
Ingredients

• 1/4 cup crunchy peanut butter
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp milk powder
• 1/3 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 2 tbsp sweetened coconut crumbs

Preparation

In a medium sized bowl, mix the peanut butter, honey and milk powder, stir. Add the cracker crumbs and mix well. Divide the mixture into 4 portions. Roll them between your hands to make oval shaped balls. Spread the coconut on a plate and coat the balls by rolling them on the plate.

Number of Servings: 4

Healthy Snacks for Kids # 4: Chocolate Crunch
Ingredients

• 1 cup Wheat Chex cereal
• 1 cup pretzel sticks broken in half
• 1/4 cup salted almonds, roasted
• 3 tablespoons chocolate chips

Preparation

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler over hot water or microwave on medium, for 2 minutes. Take a small bowl and combine the Chex, pretzels and almonds. Add the chocolate and stir. Use a baking sheet and spread the mixture. Refrigerate for 30 minutes, until the chocolate is set.

Number of Servings: 4

Healthy Snacks for Kids # 5: Apple & Cheese Squeeze
Ingredients

• 1 flour tortilla (6 inch diameter)
• 4 tbsp medium cheddar cheese, grated
• 1/3 cup thinly sliced apple

Preparation

Place the tortilla on a plate and sprinkle 2 tbsp cheddar cheese on 1 half of the tortilla. Place the apple pieces over the cheese. Then sprinkle 2 tbsp cheese over the apple pieces. Fold the tortilla over the filling. Microwave on high, for about 1 minute. Cut the tortilla in half and serve.

Number of Servings: 4

Healthy Snacks for Kids # 6: Chocolate Macaroons
Ingredients

• 1 egg white
• 1/3 cup icing sugar
• 1 tsp cocoa powder
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut crumbs

Preparation

Beat the egg white in a medium sized bowl. Combine the icing sugar and cocoa powder in a bowl. Add the mixture to the egg white and stir well. Add the coconut to the bowl of egg white. Place a parchment sheet on a plate and spoon 4 mounds of the mixture on it. Microwave on HIGH for 1 minute, until the mixture is firm. Repeat with the 2nd batch of egg white mixture. Refrigerate and serve.

Number of Servings: 8

Healthy Snacks for Kids # 7: Fresh Fruit Trifle
Ingredients

• 1 cup banana, sliced
• 1/2 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1 cup milk
• 1/3 cup chocolate pudding powder
• 1 cup small cake cubes
• 1/2 cup whipped cream topping

Preparation

Put the banana and strawberry slices in a small bowl. Combine the chocolate pudding powder with the milk. Stir till the mixture is smooth and thick. Take a pudding glass and put half the cake cubes in it. Spoon the pudding mixture over it. Add half the fruit mixture, topped with 1 tbsp whipped cream. Serve chilled.

Number of Servings: 2

Help your child make healthy snack choices over hamburgers, chips, pizzas and other fast foods. Having regular healthy kids snacks will help your children overcome constant food cravings. Late mornings and early afternoons are usually the best time for snacks. However, don't forget to limit snacks to just 100 - 150 calories per serving. Healthy snacks for kids will give them the much needed boost, as well as keep them healthy and fit.