Easy, Healthy Snacks For Kids

Kids are perhaps the pickiest eaters out there. They are picky for any number of reasons. One is being nervous to try eating something new, they may not want something in a certain color or shape, and even just wanting to be stubborn! Combine this with parents running very busy lives, it can be tough to prepare a meal and get kids to eat everything on their plate. Of course, a great way to tempt kids to eat is to offer them a snack.

There are many fruit snacks for kids. Many parents will turn to things like baked cheese crisps or salsa chips. There’s a debate going on the best crackers for toddlers too! Of course, the name of the game is healthy snack ideas for kids. They have to be easy to make too!

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Cheese And Crackers

Cheese and crackers is an incredibly simple snack to prepare for any time of the day, including putting it in a kid’s lunch they take to school! This snack is also fairly healthy. Cheese, after all, if a delicious source of calcium for kids. Their bones are going to be strong! Cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese are the most popular choices, but many kids enjoy Swiss cheese and even Monterey jack cheese too! There are even lactose-free cheeses for kids who are lactose intolerant. No one has to miss out on this classic! Crackers are also quite healthy, especially if parents choose whole wheat crackers or ones full of healthy seeds. These will deliver lots of fiber, healthy carbohydrates, and other great nutrients to their children.

Celery, Peanut Butter, And Raisins

One of the classic snacks for kids is called ‘ants on a log.’ This snack is very simple to make and is packed full of healthy nutrients. It’s simply celery sticks filled with peanut butter with raisins placed onto the top to mimic ants walking across a log. It’s a fun snack to give to kids, and they can even have fun helping make it themselves! Natural peanut butter is the healthiest choice, though in a pinch other varieties work too. If a child is allergic to peanut butter, any other spread will do here. Cheese is an easy one, and some parents even use a healthy jam!

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Popcorn

Kids love movie theatre popcorn! Of course, most movie theatre popcorn isn’t healthy, since it’s usually loaded with lots of butter. However, popcorn can still be an easy and healthy snack for kids of all ages. All parents need to do is pop some kernels in a pot on the stove and sprinkle them with a little bit of salt! Even a little parmesan cheese sprinkled on top is good. Popcorn as a snack is always a big hit with kids, and leaving out the mountains of butter makes it healthy. It might surprise some, but popcorn is a whole grain!

Yogurt

Yogurt is an easy snack for children. It’s often as simple as giving them a yogurt cup and a spoon! Yogurt is also full of calcium and protein. It helps kids grow strong bones. Many kinds of yogurt also help improve digestion since they contain healthy bacteria. Parents can even control how much yogurt they give if they choose bigger tubs and portion it. Of course, sometimes yogurt contains a lot of sugar. There is a solution! Aside from choosing a low sugar variety of yogurt, parents can also use plain yogurt and sweeten it with some berries and a little honey.

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Smoothies

Smoothies are the superhero of getting kids to have a healthy snack. The base of the smoothie is simple: a banana or avocado, some fruit, and a little water or milk. The banana and avocado make the smoothie creamy but also deliver nutrients like potassium and healthy fats. Fruits contain vitamin C, antioxidants, and lots more nutrients! Milk has calcium! However, smoothies can be even healthier if parents sneak in some spinach, chia seeds, and other add-ins. Kids will never know, since the fruit will take over the flavor! Choosing the kid’s favorite fruits makes this even easier. Parents can even try including chocolate milk if they want to use that as a temptation for their kid.