The constant refrain of, “I’m hungry” is enough to get on any parent’s nerve. And unfortunately, even if a child is hungry, chances are they actually want something unhealthy and full of sugar. It then falls to a parent or caregiver to look for creative ways to satisfy a child’s never-ending want of snacks. Here are a few healthy snack ideas to help you out. If you want even more ideas, check out here.
Fruit Popsicles
There’s nothing better on a hot day than an ice-cold popsicle. However, most store-bought popsicles are loaded with sugar. Even those that include real fruit juice don’t really have much nutritional content. The good thing is that it’s relatively easy to make your own healthy popsicles.
The first thing to do is find popsicle molds. These are available at most grocery supermarkets. You can decide to use your own fruit juice, yogurt, or a combination of both. Add in fresh or frozen berries and fruit. For an extra nutritional boost, add in some chia seeds. Mix all together and pour into the molds. Stick them in the freezer for a few hours.
The next time it’s hot out and your child wants a snack, bring them out for a little picnic!
Banana Bread
Banana bread is one of a few staple healthy snack ideas in most people’s houses. After all, what else are you going to do with brown bananas? Banana bread is ok as is, but with a few simple additions, it can quickly turn into one of your child’s favourite healthy snacks.
Start with the flour. Instead of all-purpose white flour, substitute whole wheat flour. You can even substitute up to ½ cup of flour with bran flakes for some extra fibre.
As for the sugar, either a portion of the amount or the whole amount can be replaced with apple sauce. The sweetness of applesauce makes up for the sugar and will ensure that the banana bread is nice and moist.
One final way to ensure banana bread is listed amongst the healthy snacks is to add in some extras. Flax seeds, chia seeds and even sunflower seeds can add an instant protein boost. You can even try adding a bit of quinoa. Walnuts and almonds are another great way to add a bit more nutrition.
Fruit Salad
Summer is made for fruit. Gather up your child’s favorite fruits, start chopping, and mix them all together. This ensures that only your child’s favorites are included, preferably at the ratio they want. If you have an especially picky eater who doesn’t like things mixed up, don’t despair. Just line up the fruit on a plate so that it remains separate. Another idea is to create fruit shish kebabs. There’s nothing more fun than eating food off a stick!