Tips for Healthy After School Snacks
Back to school brings that dreaded after school question, “I’m hungry! What can I eat?” Before your kid heads for the sodas and chocolate, stock up on great tasting healthy snacks to give them better options (and, to save yourself the headaches)!
Choosing and Buying Healthy Snacks
You stroll through every aisle in the store trying to figure out what will be awesome after school snacks that the kids will eat, but that don’t rate high on the sugar and preparation scale. Also, you always need a few on-the-go snacks for after school and weekend events. What can you do to make your life easier and their life healthier?
- Stock the fridge and pantry with healthy snacks, such as fruits and vegetables and ingredients for healthy recipes (like the ones below).
- Before you go shopping, tell your children what behavior you expect and what, if any, snack they can expect.
- Take snacks with you when you go to appointments or run errands.
- Provide snacks that are easy to eat.
- Use snacks to provide the food groups your children are missing during meals.
- Make snacks small, then give seconds if the child asks for more.
- Decide what snacks you will allow, and when. Explain the rules to your child and stick to them.
ALSO ON PRIME PARENTS CLUB : 5 Back to School Healthy Lunch Ideas
Fun Healthy Snack Ideas
Check out these easy healthy snack ideas–many that are great for take-along, too!
- Crunchy vegetable sticks (carrots, celery) with low-fat ranch dip (for older preschoolers)
- Nearly frozen applesauce
- Melon Melody: Watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew with non-fat whipped cream
- Ants on a Log: Peanut butter on celery with raisins
- Mud & Dirt: Low-fat pudding with crushed graham crackers mixed in
- Peanut butter on half of a whole-wheat bagel
- Whole-wheat crackers or whole-wheat tortilla with salsa
- Hummus and pita wedges
- “Light” microwave popcorn with grated parmesan cheese (for children three years and older)
- Mini-pizzas: Half an English muffin covered with a tablespoon of tomato sauce, then topped with part-skim mozzarella cheese
If you’re looking for more great tips and recipes, check out PBS Kids–who has partnered with Whole Foods Markets–for a cool new “Fantastic Organic” program.
What are your tips for quick, easy and healthy after school snacks for your kids?
Image: Surachai
Category: Food
About the Author (Author Profile)
Jacqueline Wilson is a prime parent, wife, published author and freelance writer. She writes here, on Prime Parents’ Club, and on her observational parenting humor blog, WritRams.com: Writer Ramblings on Parenting Imperfectly. Follow her on Twitter as @WritRams and on her Facebook page. She recently wrote an e-Book on the REAL truth about how blogs make money. She recently started Project Purse Club, a support and networking group dedicated to changing the way women treat each other in business and blogging.Subscribe
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