The school year can be stressful for everyone: especially the kids going back to classes. When many children arrive back home, they’re hungry and exhausted. To give them the energy they need to complete homework and enjoy their time away from school, you have to pick a great snack that will keep them full and happy.
These four options are all healthy, have at least one serving of protein, fruits, or vegetables, and can be made with the help of your children!
Ants On A Log
This snack is a classic favorite that’s been adored for decades. Clean and cut celery down to four-inch lengths, and then spread your nut butter of choice on top. From here, sprinkle on the raisins or craisins that will be the ‘ants’ on the log. You can customize this in many ways, from changing out which nut butter to replacing it with cottage cheese. This snack creates a healthy and delicious way to energize your kids without having to give them a ton of sugar.
Sweet and Spicy Nuts
If none of your children have a nut allergy, this can be a fantastic snack that will let them enjoy a good mix of sweet and savory while also ensuring that they’re getting some protein in. Sweet and spicy nuts can be made by tossing peanuts or almonds in cranberry pepper jelly and baking at low heat until they’re just barely tacky. The coating will firm up as they cool and create this almost-candied exterior that’s fun to eat and makes it a great snack.
Home-Made Fruit Popsicles
Popsicles are a fun treat, but they’re often extraordinarily unhealthy. Making these with your children can be a fun activity, turning into a delicious and healthy treat to enjoy throughout the week. You can make these with popsicle sticks and ice trays, but popsicle molds are readily available at nearly any retailer that has kitchen goods.
Chop up fruit and berries and place them into popsicle molds. Pour over 100% fruit juice and leave enough room for the liquids to expand. You can get creative with these and add things like mint to freshen the flavor, but these are completely customizable and allow you to make the perfect dessert for anyone.
Frozen Banana Ice Cream
This may sound unhealthy: but it only needs two ingredients! First, peel and slice bananas in the morning before your children go to school. The average serving should be about a banana per child, but you can go up to a banana and a half for teens. Then, when your child gets home from school, put these frozen bananas in the blender with a tablespoon of peanut butter per child.
The banana will blend out into a smooth ice cream texture, and the peanut butter will make it taste like heaven. This snack packs a good amount of protein while also ensuring your children get a serving of fruit. This snack is even better for children who have sports or activities after school and need something to help them bounce back from it.
