Fun And Healthy Snacks For Kids

October 14, 2010
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This is our very first guest post—written by Jasmine Stephenson.

Most of us are a little guilty of allowing our kids to indulge in junk food every once in a while. However, diets high in refined sugar and fat are seriously harmful to your child’s health. Liver damage, poor concentration, and obesity are just some of the consequences attributed to too much junk food.

The American Diabetes Association estimates that about 1 in every 400 to 600 children have diabetes. With the majority of school cafeterias offering little in the way of healthy food, and with the growing rate of junk food advertisements on TV, it is now more important than ever to promote healthy eating habits for your children.

Here are a few ideas for fun snacks you can make for your kids to get you started:

 

Photo courtesy Photos8.com

Fruit Shake

Fruit shakes are easy to make and delicious. It’s also a great way to make sure your kids are getting their daily fruit intake. Along with the fruit, you can use water or milk as the base. All you need to do is chop up the fruit, chuck it in the blender along with your base, and your child has a deliciously, healthy drink full of vitamins.

Here are some fun combinations to try:

  • Banana and strawberry
  • Strawberry and pineapple
  • Mango, papaya, banana, and apple
  • Orange, apple, banana

None of these recipes should require sugar, so resist adding it. However, if your child complains it’s not sweet enough, you may want to add a bit of honey.

 

Fun Raw Food Platter

One way to encourage your kids to eat vegetables while they’re young is to arrange them into fun shapes. Make a face by placing grapes in dabs of hummus for the eyes, a carrot nose, a smile made out of raisins, pears halves for ears, and broccoli for hair. Provide a few healthy dips, like hummus, yogurt, or a bit of peanut butter.

Ants on a log is a classic, made by cutting celery in long strips, filling them with peanut butter, and adding raisins on top. Get creative, and ask your kids for help. You can turn this snack into a game, with your kids providing the shape and you thinking of ways to make it with different foods, and vice versa.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/auntikhaki/3671322447/#/

Popsicles

What kid doesn’t love popsicles? They’re tasty, they cool you off on a hot day, and they always feel like a dessert. So what’s the trick to making a popsicle healthy? Make your own!

Any type of fruit juice can be used. However, ensure that the juice isn’t composed of preservatives. Simply fill your ice cube trays with the juice, place popsicle sticks in the middle, wait a few hours, and voilà!

An alternative recipe is to add bits of fruit into the mixture, such as blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries. Make this even more fun and ask your kid to help. They’ll begin to learn about healthy food choices and feel confident preparing their own food.

What healthy and fun snacks are popular with your kids? Leave us a comment!

 

Jasmine Stephenson is a blogger and a writer.


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