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You want to teach your children healthy eating habits, and that extends to snack time too. When they come in after school and they’re starving, though, what snacks are going to work out well? Which ones will satisfy them and excite their taste buds? Here are a few ideas your kids will love as much as you do.
- Pretzel-wiches: Your kids probably love waffle pretzels, and as far as quick snacks go, they’re a good idea on their own. Add a bit of protein and energy though with this creative snack. Grab several sets of waffle pretzels. Spread peanut butter on one side of each, then start adding a few fillings. On one, add some sliced bananas, then top it with another pretzel. On another, add some mini chocolate chips. On another, go with sliced almonds. Get creative, but remember to stay as healthy as possible.
- P.B.B.dillas – You may love the idea of a quesadilla, but add a bit of fruit, and you have a winning combo that will help keep your kiddo full until dinner. The prep here is fairly simple. Grab some whole wheat tortillas. Spread peanut butter on half of it. Add some sliced bananas. Drizzle a bit of honey on if you like. Fold it over, cut it in half, and you have one delicious “dilla” that your kids will love.
- Pumpkin Applesauce – This is a great choice for fall, as there are typically plenty of pie pumpkins you can use as a base as well as full store displays of canned pumpkin that will work well too. It takes just a few seconds to prepare, and the chances are good that your kids will absolutely love this one. You simply add the pumpkin at the end of the applesauce cooking time, throw in a little vanilla, and you have a delicious treat they’ll love.
- Fruit Rolls – If you have a food dehydrator, this is an excellent choice that’s fairly easy to prepare. Just choose the fruits that your kids like best, puree them, then pour them out onto your dehydrator tray. You’re going for a thickness of about a quarter of an inch. Dry for about four hours.
- Yogurt Biscuits – Kids love biscuits, and this is a great way to add a few extra nutrients. You need 1 ¼ cups of whole wheat flour, 1 ¼ cups of white flour, 1 ½ teaspoons of sea salt, 1 tablespoon of baking powder, ½ cup unsalted butter, and 1 1/3 cups Greek yogurt. Preheat your oven to 450. Combine the dry ingredients in a food processor. Sprinkle the butter across the top of the dry ingredients and pulse it until you get pebble consistency. Add in the yogurt and pulse until incorporated. Pull it out of the food processor. Knead it five times. Press it out to a ¾ inch rectangle. Cut it into 12 biscuits and bake for fifteen minutes.
- Frozen Banana Bites – Looking to add some fruit to those afterschool snacks? This is a great way to do it. Slice bananas, then freeze them. Dip them in melted chocolate, and place back in the freezer. Cover with almonds if you like. Pull them out when the kids come home from school, and they’ll really enjoy this creamy treat.
- Peanut Butter Dip: Cut up apples or veggies or grab some whole wheat crackers. Then mix a single serving of applesauce with two tablespoons of peanut butter. Your kids will love the idea of dipping, and you get to offer them plenty of protein and vitamin C at the same time.
- Smoothies: These work well because there are tons of different combinations you can try, so you’ll never get bored. Just stock up on a variety of different frozen fruit options, blend that with milk, yogurt, and ice, and you have a delicious treat everyone will find refreshing.
- Yogurt: You don’t just have to go with this as an additive to your child’s after school snacks. It can be the entire snack. Sprinkle on some blueberries or other chopped fruits and a tablespoon of granola, and you’ll add in an extra nutritional punch.
- Mini Bagel Pizzas: This isn’t quite as bad as it sounds. Just grab some whole wheat mini bagels. Top them with spinach, then some tomato sauce. Shred low fat mozzarella on top, and toast briefly in your oven until the cheese melts.
Your kids are hungry when they get home from school. Choose a healthy snack idea that will fill them up and offer them some nutrition at the same time.
About The Author
J.J. Smith is a mom that enjoys sharing her parenting experiences, delicious recipes, and craft ideas for kids as a regular blog contributor at www.baby-gifts-gift-baskets.com . Eating healthy doesn’t mean that you need to sacrifice flavor!