Quite often kids get hungry and ask for snacks. On average, moms have to think about what snack to give at least four times a day. Especially with children in their prime growth age, it gets hard because they always feel hungry. In such times, it is also important to keep healthy options in mind and not give junk food all the time. Even though junk food is the easier option and available easily as well. But it can have multiple side effects on children in the longer run. Try to alternate between junk and healthy snacks for kids. Here are some easy options that you can consider.
Yogurt
Yogurt is packed with healthy nutrients and most kids love to have it as well. It is a great source of calcium and protein. Moreover, it also has some live in bacteria which makes the digestive system strong and healthy. Kids with chronic constipation must have yogurt regularly.
Popcorn
Some people think popcorn is some junk crap. Whereas it is a nutritious whole grain. If you are not topping it with any sauce or syrup, then it is a great healthy snack for kids. It is also packed with protein. However, parents must be careful when giving popcorn to younger children because of choking hazards. Do not leave the children unattended if they are too young to understand the choking hazard.
Celery with Peanut Butter and Raisins
Some people call it ‘ants on a log’. It is a great fun way to make children eat vegetables. Cut the celery into three to four pieces and apply peanut butter to it. Then put raisins on top. It is a great combination of protein, carbs, fiber, and fats. However, if you are really particular about ingredients then use homemade peanut butter or buy the one without any added preservatives or vegetable oil.
Nuts
Nuts have antioxidants, healthy fats, and fiber. All of these are extremely important for growing children. Initially, doctors used to recommend against giving nuts to children but recent researches show that these are beneficial for health. However, you must keep allergies in mind as many children are allergic to some sort of nuts. Additionally, nuts are a choking hazard and must be given under supervision.
Sliced Pear with Ricotta Cheese
Pear works as a sweet treat for kids and it is easy to eat when cut into small slices. It is high levels of fiber as well which makes them great as a fulfilling snack. Adding ricotta cheese will make the combo more healthy due to calcium and protein. The kid can easily eat it on their own without someone’s supervision. Juicy pears are even more delightful.
Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is one of the easiest healthy snacks for kids. It is soft and kids eat it easily. Even infants can have cottage cheese. Apart from protein it also has Vitamin B12, Selenium, and Calcium. Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient for proper growth and brain development in kids. You can either give a piece of cottage cheese alone or pair it with some fresh or dried fruit. Other than that you can also spread it as a cream on whole grain bread.
Fruit Smoothie
Fruits are essential for people of every age and especially kids. If your kid does not like to eat fruit on its own, make a smoothie as it is more interesting for kids. Secondly, smoothie makes it even more nutritious with calcium and protein. There are a lot of fruits that you can use in smoothies like berries, bananas, and mango. Moreover, you can also add veggies and nuts to a smoothie. Hence, it is a great way to make kids eat all the healthy stuff if they don’t eat it any other way.
