I can’t believe the summer is already coming to an end and September is just around the corner. It’s also back-to-school time, which means hungry kids after school. If you want to mix things up and help your family eat a little healthier this year, give one of the snacks below a try. They’re nutritious and fun and will get your kids excited about snack time! You can follow their blog at: https://kfitbody.wordpress.com/
Make-Your-Own Fruit & Cereal Yogurt Parfaits
Here’s a fun way to get your kiddos involved in snack time: Make-Your-Own Yogurt Parfaits! You control the ingredients, so you can make sure they’re eating healthy, but your kids pick and choose what goes into their parfait, so they’re calling the shots too, which, of course, is fun for them. Some ingredient ideas, but anything goes: Greek yogurt (plain or flavored), cereal, rolled oats, fresh berries, almonds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, sliced banana, chopped apple, and nut butter.
Pizza Rice Cakes
If your kids want pizza, here is a healthy alternative! Just spread pizza sauce (warm or cold) onto a rice cake and then top with spreadable cheese (like The Laughing Cow), a few shakes of dried oregano, and their favorite toppings, like fresh veggies, turkey pepperoni, or pineapple.
Chocolate “Grape” Shake
Every kids loves a thick and creamy chocolate shake, right? Well, this “grape” shake is actually a nutritious smoothie that tastes just like the classic version we all love.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup black or red grapes
- 1/2 medium avocado
- 1 cup milk of your choice (I used vanilla soy milk, but I think chocolate would be ever better!)
- 2 tsp cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
Directions: Combine ingredient in a blender until smooth. Makes 1 serving (approximately 16 ounces).
Turkey & Cheese Roll-Ups
Roll-ups are another fun way to get your kids involved in snack time since they’re easy and fun to make. Just smear a wedge of spreadable cheese, like The Laughing Cow, on a whole wheat (or spinach or whatever variety your kids like) wrap, add a few slices of turkey, and then roll it up. (You can also try to sneak in some nutritious stuff like fresh spinach or chopped cucumbers.)
Edamame with sea salt
One cup of edamame pods has about 7 grams of protein, which is a great option for hungry kids. The edamame will fill them up and they’ll stay busy opening the pods. Try sprinkling on a little sea salt to satisfy salt cravings! (FYI: Trader Joe’s, Stop & Shop, and Whole Foods sell bags of edamame in their freezer section.)
Trail Mix Bar
Another fun snack idea, similar to Make-Your-Own-Yogurt-Parfaits, is setting up a “trail mix bar” for your kids to make their own creations. Lay out a bunch of ingredient options, such as cereal, granola, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and shredded coconut, give them a plastic baggie, and let them go to town making their own trail mix blend. You can also have them make extra trail mixes for future snacks, which saves you time later on!
Cheesy Cucumber Boats
Your kids will love eating cucumbers when they’re filled with cheese! Spreadable cheese, like The Laughing Cow, works great as well as low-fat cream cheese. Try topping your “boats” with fresh dill or salsa for some added flavor.
Moms, what are your favorite back-to-school snacks for your kids?
