Healthy Snacks Options for Kids

Every parent knows the vital role healthy food and snacks play in keeping their children hale and hearty. Unfortunately, the little ones, in their infinite wisdom can sometimes rebel against the very thing they need. Thus, it is upon every parent to find creative ways to make food, especially fruits and vegetables, a fun and delightful option.

There are people who don’t think “healthy” and “snack” should go together. Providing healthy snacks may seem difficult, but there are plenty of creative and delicious options to choose from, including frozen smoothies, cucumber rolls, specialty pizzas, exotic salsas, and banana rolls.
With schools resuming soon after the Easter holiday, these easy-to-make super-healthy snacks will continue the festivities and still contain all the essential nutrients your children need.

Veggie Pizza: Almost every child loves pizza. Rather than spend time kicking against the penchant for junk food, after which you’d probably give in just to gain some peace, consider adding vegetables to the mix. Bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, and olives are packed full of vitamins and other micro and macronutrients; also, they make yummy pizza toppings instead of pepperoni, beef, and chicken!

Smoothies: Smoothies are a great way to feed your toddler and pre-teen vegetables and healthy fats. Try simple smoothie blends of yogurt with their favorite fruits (pineapples, strawberries, blueberries, apples, etc.) and you are good to go! For an extra fun option, fill popsicle containers with these smoothies. A few hours later, your children will have sweet and delicious low-sugar popsicles. Most fruits contain vitamins A, C, and E, as well as potassium, magnesium, zinc, and calcium, which are all vital nutrients for children.

Cucumber Snacks: The best part of making delicious cucumber rolls for your children is that you can enlist their help. Slice long strips of red and yellow bell peppers, celery, and cucumber. Then, spread cream cheese on the inside of the cucumber strips, add the other ingredients, and roll them up. This provides a large amount of dietary fiber, minerals, and vitamins.

Banana Rolls: Banana is a must-have for every growing child due to their myriad health benefits such as improving brain function, digestion, eyesight, and bone development, as well as blood pressure and energy levels. Each bite delivers dietary fiber, potassium, probiotics, and whole grains. Slice a banana, dunk the pieces in Greek yogurt, and roll them in oatmeal or a bran mix. Once done, freeze the banana rolls on a cookie sheet for one or two hours.

Veggie/Fruit Mix Salsa: Cooking with your kids gets them excited to try new things. Together, you can cut up tomatoes, onions, jalapeño peppers, cilantro, mango, and pineapple and blend them in a food processor with your favorite spices. Once your salsa is sliced and diced, serve with whole-wheat or corn tortilla chips. This healthy snack is colorful, uniquely flavored, and packed with fiber, phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals.

Try one or more of these suggestions today, and create more exciting recipes as you go.

Who said eating healthy at snack-time couldn’t be fun, delicious, and nutritious at the same time?