There are so many snack options for children these days. Unfortunately most of them are unhealthy. They contain high levels of fats, sugars, and artificial dyes. For a parent looking to make healthy snacks for their children that taste great there are some suggestions on how to make this healthy food kid friendly.
Most of the time when a child hears that something is healthy for them they do not want to eat it. When they hear about a healthy snack they often think that it will not taste good. When preparing healthy snacks it is best to give them a fun title and allow the children to have fun with their food. There is the classic ants on a log with is just a celery stalk filled with peanut butter and topped with raisins. To make this snack even healthier use low fat peanut butter. Children like milk shakes but there is no reason for them to have to consume all the fat that they contain. To make a tasty low fat cherry milkshake low fat ingredients can be used. To make this healthy treat blend a cup of low fat or fat free milk with a little bit of low fat vanilla yogurt. Once this is combined add a half cup of cherries without the pits and a tablespoon or two of dark chocolate chips. Blend again and serve. The child will not know they are eating healthy.
Snacks are becoming and more interesting and diverse. To entertain a child chips and dip are usually a popular choice. There are many brands come chips that now come in a baked variety. Pita chips can also be found in the store. If pita chips are not available they are easy to make. Take a pita and toast it in the oven for a couple minutes until it gets crispy. When it cool break it up into pieces. These chips can then be served with bean dip or guacamole. To make this snack even more interesting the children can make their own guacamole.
Microwavable popcorn is healthy for children to have as a snack. This popcorn may not have a lot of flavor and children often add melted butter to make the popcorn taste better. Instead of adding butter add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. This will add flavor without adding fat . Even a little bit of garlic powder can be added to the popcorn for a spicy kick. Every once in a while a mixture of cinnamon and sugar can be added to the popcorn for a sweet treat that is still healthy to eat. Trail mix also makes a good snack for children. Raisins, granola, dried fruit such as cranberries, nuts, and chocolate chip pieces can be mixed together for treat.
These are some ideas that will help make snack time healthy for children. A snack does not have to contain a lot of fat or calories in order to taste good. These snacks mixed with proper eating habits can help make sure children grow up happy and healthy while still enjoying all the benefits of childhood.
Larry Lembcke is an educational blogger and personal trainer in Louisville, Kentucky. He frequently promotes online degree programs, and his work has been featured by prominent universities such as King University.
