Healthy snacks for kids
When it comes to healthy snacks, a few things are important to me. I want to give my daughter foods that have have no added sugar and are low in sodium (a good rule of thumb are snacks with less than 140 mg of sodium per serving). I also want her to eat foods that are limited in saturated fat and have no trans fats.
Equally important to me is CONVENIENCE! I want to be able to prep in bulk quickly and use few ingredients. I want the snacks to be an easy grab, and I should be able to store and transport them easily. That means they aren’t messy, she can eat them in the car or shopping cart, and I don’t have to worry about heating or refrigerating when we’re not at home.
Here are some of my favorites:
Fruits
Clementines, apples, and bananas are great for on the go. I also prep other fruits and divide them into containers so they are a quick grab throughout the week. I typically choose seasonal fruits.
Vegetables
Carrots, bell peppers, celery, and cucumbers are a few of my favorites. I cut them into slices and keep them in a large container so I can grab a handful whenever needed. As with fruits, I tend to go with what’s in season.
DIY trail mix
Create your own version of a trail mix with your kid’s favorite snacks. My daughter loves dried cranberries, walnuts, and cheerios. I make a bagful at the beginning of the week and can scoop out a portion as needed. It’s easy to throw some into a snack bag or container and take it with us!
Yogurt and granola
I buy a large container of yogurt (I find it more cost effective than buying individual serving containers). I divide it into my own small containers at home and add some granola on top. You can also add berries or other fruit! It’s a great snack to pull out of the fridge at home or add to breakfast!
Banana pancakes
There are numerous recipes that use bananas instead of eggs for pancakes. After I make my banana pancakes, I refrigerate them and pull them out for breakfast or when I know we’ll be leaving the house for a longer time. Since they do not contain eggs, I worry less about keeping them refrigerated when we’re out running errands.
Banana ice cream
That’s right, a healthy ice cream! Just blend bananas and put them into a container in the freezer. Scoop out with an ice cream scoop to give it even more of an ice cream feel and add any toppings if you want!
Please keep in mind this is intended to be a list of ideas. If your child has food allergies or sensitivities, please use what works best for him or her. Always check with your pediatrician if you have questions or if you want to know what foods your child is ready to eat.
