Are you sick of the highly processed junk food that’s constantly pushed at our kids these days? I certainly am.
I mean, take Nutella for example – when I was living in Australia we had an advert pushing the “health benefits” of Nutella as a breakfast option for kids…WHAT?? Give me a break!
Incidentally, this ad was banned in the UK following complaints from 53 concerned consumers regarding the message this was sending out to families.
I’m all for “treat” foods now and again, but it’s extremely annoying when manufacturers and advertisers get away with such lies.
So, if you’re trying to get your kids to snack healthier, here are some healthier kids snack ideas for you to try out on your little babes…
20 Kids Snack Ideas
#1 Kebabs – thread alternate pieces of lean ham, cucumber, cheese and cherry tomatoes onto skewers or toothpicks.
#2 Fruity sorbet – place small cups of 100% whole orange juice into the freezer, then eat as sorbet when ready.
#3 Fruit slices served with peanut butter – granny smith apples work really well.
#4 Homemade mini muffins – such as wholewheat carrot and cinnamon, or wholewheat zucchini muffins.
#5 Any combination of dried fruit, nuts, seeds and wholegrain cereals.
#6 Wholegrain crackers with soft cheese and tomato or cucumber on top.
#7 Fresh fruit slices with soy cream cheese for dipping – take a tub of soy cream cheese, add 1/4 cup 100% fruit juice, and a dash of cinnamon, then stir until smooth.
#8 Toasted pita bread cut into triangles and served with salsa for dipping.
#9 Healthy baking – experiment with your favourite recipes by substituting some of the fat with apple sauce, and using half white flour, half wholewheat flour. You can also add some oats, dried fruit, and nuts. Even better get your kids involved in the process.
#10 Any combination of frozen fruit – grapes, berries, or bananas.
#11 Ants on logs – celery sticks with hummus, then sprinkle raisins on top.
#12 Cup wholegrain cereal with milk
#13 Quesadillas – made using wholegrain burritos, filled with baked beans and cheese, fold up, then toast in a sandwich press, and serve cut into wedges.
#14 Fruity frozen yogurt – put natural yogurt into a bowl and mix with a combination of cut up fresh or frozen fruit, then pop into cups and freeze for a sweet treat.
#15 Cup of popcorn with herbs or small amount of cheese added for extra flavor.
#16 Veggie frittata cut into triangles.
#17 Mixed food platter – using a selection of cheddar cheese cubes, feta cheese, fruit slices, raw veggies, pitted olives, suitable dip, dried fruit, nuts, mini bread sticks, and yoghurt.
#18 Sushi rice rolls with avocado, grated carrot and tuna.
#19 Home made mini pizza – topped with tomato purée, leftover veggies, and a little grated cheese.
#20 Awesome Banana popsicles
Ingredients:
3 bananas
6 popsicle sticks
1/4 cup natural peanut butter, softened
1/4 cup chopped peanuts or walnuts, granola, crispy rice cereal, or sunflower seeds
Method:
- Peel the bananas. Cut them in half, widthwise, and push a popsicle stick through the cut end of each half. Spread peanut butter on the bananas, and then roll them in the nuts, cereal, or seeds. Wrap them in waxed paper and freeze for three hours.
What are your favorite kids snack ideas?
For more healthy kids snacks check out my previous article.
Image credit: Chrissi
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Melanie,
These are GREAT ideas! I’ve always thought the same about the Nutella whenever I see the ads…I always think really? Chocolate for breakfast is healthy? Okay???…
The kebabs are my favorite. My son loves dry mini-wheats first thing in the morning and snacks on them occassionally throughout the day. Thanks for this I love having new and different things to try!
Hi Sherri,
It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? The things advertisers seem to get away with. I suppose we should be complaining more to get it stopped.
I’m glad you got a few new ideas! :-)
I am glad you have these, I get sick of things like that too. I was telling my husband the other day (we are kind of young and starting out, so we don’t have tons of money(: ) that eventually I want to buy more natural foods that are better for us and REAL, not all artificial. We do buy pretty healthy, just moth things are processed and bleached and everything. He took offense like he wasn’t good enough and I felt bad for hurting his feelings, but I explained how we do spend so much on food, they charge more and more for food that they make less and less nutritious, but then it is so much more to eat organic and everything too.
Anyways, these are some healthful tips(:
I was also wanting to let people know about a drug Skittle Epidemic that is going on, I just don’t want to see this happen to anybody else. There is more at my blog: http://yovia.com/blogs/kimberly/2009/07/28/reports-of-drugs-being-in-skittles/
I hope they fix this!!
Hi Kimberly,
You’re so right, they do charge more and more for food that’s complete rubbish really! We all need to get back to basics I think.
Thanks for sharing the link about Skittle’s, that really is shocking, do you think these are isolated incidents?
Hello Melanie,
Thanks for these great tips for kids snacks! I think I’ll try out the banana popsicles when I have a chance and some bananas!
I find that one way to encourage them to eat good food is to sit down and prepare it, and start having some myself, without telling them they should have some too. When they walk into the kitchen and see mama peeling oranges and eating them, chances are they will sit around the table with me and ask for wedges.
My 4 year old asked for watermelon for breakfast today :-)
(now, before you think I have it all figured out, he will ask for chocolate for breakfast too…)
I let them have instant cocoa when they ask for it, but this summer they have been requesting cold milk with no cocoa, or homemade milkshakes.
Ruth,
That’s wonderful – it does sound like you have it sorted pretty good!! I like your idea of giving them the instant cocoa, it’s a good way to get some milk and calcium into your kids.
Hello
I am currently doing a project on children bad way of eating at home and school.
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