Snacks are an important part of a child’s diet because they help to supplement their nutrition as well as provide them with energy. Although it’s important to introduce variety, it could get a little daunting to choose and prepare a snack every day. A few dishes taste great only when served warm, and these can be cooked ahead and stored in an insulated casserole, all ready to served, come snack time. A few snack dishes like fresh fruits or yoghurt don’t need much of prep time, and can be served any time of the day! Planning your child’s snack every day is the key. Here are 24 fun and healthy snacks that you can rustle up quickly, and will make your child happy and full.
1. Yogurt
Yogurt is one of the best snacks to provide for any child. Not just yummy and fun to eat, it is also a great source of calcium and protein. Growing children need both of these nutrients in order to grow healthy and strong. Yogurt also contains healthy bacteria that helps with the digestive system. If your child is not a fan of plain yoghurt, try introducing flavoured yoghurts – you can add chunks of fruits or pureed fruits in yoghurt to make it more interesting.
2. Nuts
There are lots of nuts to choose from when it comes to choosing healthy snacks for your children. They are high in dietary fiber, healthy fats, antioxidants, and protein – all very important nutrients for developing children. Almonds, cashews, hazel nuts, walnuts and ground nuts, most of them make a great snack for kids. Store the nuts in an air-tight insulated food jar, one that will retain the crispness and freshness of the nuts until it’s time to eat them. Also, ensure your children are not allergic to nuts before serving them large amounts of nuts for snack time.
3. Trail Mix
Trail mix is a top tier snack for children of all ages. The brilliant thing about trail mix is that you can mix it to suit your child’s particular taste without changing the nature of the snack. Trail mix is basically dried fruits, nuts, seeds, and a little bit of chocolate all mixed up together. Just pick your child’s favorite combination of the food above and they will have a perfectly healthy snack suited to them. It doesn’t take more than a few minutes to prepare either.
4. Sliced Pears with Ricotta Cheese
Yes, this snack sounds pretty fancy, but children deserve fancy snacks too. It actually sounds fancier than it really is. Sliced pear has lots of dietary fiber and glucose which gives your child healthy energy and keeps their digestive system healthy. The ricotta cheese also provides calcium and protein, which are two nutrients that every growing child needs in plenty. Just make sure your little guy doesn’t overdo it as this is one very addictive snack.
5. Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese or paneer is one of the best snacks for children and human beings in general. Soft and creamy, cottage cheese or paneer is delicious to eat. Like all cheese, it is rich and protein and calcium. But it also contains selenium, and B complex vitamins which are important for proper brain development in children. The best thing about paneer is its versatility. You can serve it as a standalone dish or combine it with fresh vegetables. Paneer fingers, paneer salad or paneer paratha, cook any one of the paneer dish, store them in a casserole to keep warm, and serve when your child has a fired-up appetite to eat something delicious. These snacks work exceptionally well on days when your kid is back from a sports practice or on day when you want to cheer them up.
6. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is one of those dishes that is as old as human consciousness. Oats were one of the earliest domesticated grains, so it stands to reason that oatmeal would make a pretty healthy snack. Oats are high in dietary fiber which plays a role in maintaining digestive health. Most people, especially children feel the need to sweeten up their oats. Don’t add sugar or brown sugar in this case – use honey, cinnamon, or dried apples instead. Warm masala oats or sweetened oats gruel, both work well. Store it in a casserole so your kids can relish a warm snack after school.
7. Fruit Smoothie
Nothing beats a fruit smoothie when it comes to taste or nutritional health. A fruit smoothie literally packs several fruits and vegetables into one glass. This can be a true blessing when it comes to children who can be notoriously picky eaters at times. Make sure you’re using fresh, whole ingredients and not utilizing fruit juices which are normally packed with additional sugar. Instead of adding sugar, use honey or a guava as a natural sweetener.
8. Popcorn
Nothing beats a fruit smoothie when it comes to taste or nutritional health. A fruit smoothie literally packs several fruits and vegetables into one glass. This can be a true blessing when it comes to children who can be notoriously picky eaters at times. Make sure you’re using fresh, whole ingredients and not utilizing fruit juices which are normally packed with additional sugar. Instead of adding sugar, use honey or a guava as a natural sweetener.
9. Baked Sweet Potato Fries
French fries are something that just about every child loves. Just about every adult loves them as well. But they are notoriously unhealthy to eat on a regular basis. Sweet potato fries are the total opposite. They meet the same cravings you’re trying to fulfill by eating French fries while being way healthier. The baked sweet potato fries will give your children lots of energy and leave them filling filled longer. And sweet potatoes aren’t hard to find either!
10. Raisins
You just can’t go wrong with a nice pack of raisins when it comes to afternoon snack time. Raisins may just be dehydrated grapes, but they make fantastic and fulfilling snacks. You can buy them in cute prepackaged boxes that are the perfect snack size. Raisin are grapes, so they are higher in natural sugar than some other snack options, so make sure that you are being aware of proper serving sizes. Too many raisins can spoil the diet
11. Chilli idly/chilli parota
Finding the right snack for your kids can put you in somewhat of a pickle, particularly in days when you don’t have time to cook something from the scratch. Cut up idly or parotta, sauteed with onions, tomatoes, mixed vegetables and spices make a great snack, one that your kids will love. Cook up these, store in a casserole and you are all set to serve a warm snack after your kid’s play time, school time.
12. Kale Chips
Ok, no one likes kale, but everyone likes chips, or at least that’s the way things should be. Kale chips are the ultimate compromise of the snack world. Chips by themselves aren’t very healthy because they’re mostly carbs and salt. But when you turn kale into chips, you all of a sudden get health(ier) chips that have the vitamins and minerals contained in kale and a little bit of sodium. Your children are guaranteed to love these.
13. Veggie Wraps
These snacks take a little bit more work than some of the other snacks on this list. They are basically little bite sized rolls composed of veggies, egg, panner or chicken. Make a batch of these and store them in a hot case to serve warm when your child is back after a full day at school. Sauce or a yoghurt dip, both works well as a side.
14. Carrot Sticks and Hummus
When it comes to making your kids eat healthier sometimes you have to use a carrot and stick method, so why not combine the carrot and stick into one healthy snack? Carrot sticks by themselves are fun to eat. Hummus for dip is great with carrot sticks. Hummus is made from chickpeas which are a type of superfood and has many vital minerals and nutrients.
15. Guacamole
This snack choice is one of the best options for any household with active children. All you need are ripe avocadoes, and making guacamole is quite simple. Great on their own, or delicious along with chips, guacamole is a healthy snack you can rustle up in a few minutes.
16. Peanut Butter and Banana Slices
This is a throwback from a bygone era. Peanut butter and banana slices go together like peanut butter and jelly. They make for a wonderfully healthy snack combination. Just slice a few bananas into slices and provide some peanut butter as a spread or dip and your children will love you. Peanut butter provides protein and the bananas has potassium which helps your children stay hydrated. Your only problem with this snack is you may run out of bananas.
17. Frozen Fruit Popsicles
Making frozen fruit popsicles takes a little bit more preparation time than a few other snack options on this list. You’ll want to give yourself at least a full day to get these ready, but the payoff is definitely worth it. Your kids will naturally enjoy these because all children enjoy popsicles, and you will enjoy them because you know that they’re eating healthy. Make sure to use your kids’ favorite fruits to maximize their enjoyment.
18. Veggie Pita Pocket
It can be difficult to get your children to eat the right amount of vegetables. Most people think the way veggies taste is the problem, but sometimes the problem is how you serve them. This snack makes eating vegetables fun. The pita pocket looks fun to eat and is fun to prepare; it’s also pretty simple to prepare. You can have your kids participate in making their own snacks which will encourage them to eat them.
19. Sandwich
Sandwiches make great snack foods. They are easy to prepare and taste great, while also being healthy. Mixed veggies, cheese or even chicken, sandwiches in general are loved by both kids and adults alike. They make a great snack for days when kids did not enjoy their lunch much.
20. Fruit Cocktail
Eating fruit cocktails that are bought in the store are definitely not healthy. They are often preserved in high fructose corn syrup. Parents can easily make a healthy alternative at home using fresh fruit.
21. Wheat dosa and sambhar
You really can’t go wrong with this combination when it comes to healthy and fun snacks. The act of dipping food and eating it is always a fun experience that children tend to enjoy. Not only will they enjoy the experience they will also benefit from the vitamins and minerals in this tiffin combo.
22. Bread and Hummus
This snack is great for parents who don’t have a lot of time on their hands to prepare snacks. You can keep freshly made hummus and pita bread in the refrigerator or store the hummus in an insulated storage container and you will be able to prepare a plate of snack in a matter of minutes.
23. Roasted Makhna
Makhna or foxseeds are healthy, and they taste delicious when roasted. Crunchy when roasted, makhna taste great when mixed with some seasoning and salt. try roasting them in ghee to make them both healthier and tastier!
24. Avocado Wrap
The great thing about this snack is you can make it cold; there’s no need to warm up the oven or anything. Turkey or any meat in a wrap tastes great and provides the necessary protein your child needs for growth as well.
The key to making healthy snacks is using whole foods and fresh ingredients; try to avoid serving store-bought snacks that use lots of preservatives. Also try to make something that works well as leftovers, so that you can save time and avoid experiencing burnout. Make sure you make these healthy snacks in huge batches, and store them well in insulated food jars, so you save up some time, and can rustle up a mini meal in a few minutes!