As every mother knows, kids can be finicky eaters. When you need fresh ideas for kid-friendly snacks, check out these mom and kid-tested foods that are sure to satisfy even the pickiest eaters.
Grab-n-go snacks
If you’re a mom to a tween or teen, you probably know they’re going to get in and out of the kitchen as fast as they can, and they’ll grab whatever snack is right in front of them. Blogger Christine McCarthy understands this phenomenon all too well. As the mother of an 11 and 16-year-old, she makes sure to stock the fridge with prepared items that can be grabbed quickly or made in minutes. Her counter remains stocked with apples and bananas, while the fridge includes “cut up celery, watermelon chunks, cheese cubes, yogurt and hummus. I also keep my cupboard full of popcorn bags, pretzels, raisin boxes and oatmeal packets. My daughter loves making herself oatmeal.”
Healthy snack recipes for kids >>
Quick-n-tasty snacks
When you need to whip up a healthy after-school snack in minutes, just think about ways to jazz up standard snack foods. For instance, Laurie A. Gray, JD, says that her daughter loves “bananas sliced in circles with a dab of peanut butter on top, apple wedges with Nutella on the side and pretzels with cream cheese on the side.” Serve the snacks with a cup of milk or juice, and you’ll be rewarded with satisfied smiles from your kids.
If you need a quick snack your kids can take with them in the car, try this simple idea from Sadie Furlong: “Peanut butter-banana rollups are easy and mess-free. Take an organic tortilla, spread it with peanut butter, lay a banana in the center and wrap it up. You can eat it on the go, and it keeps kids full!”
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Snacks to make with your kids
Kids love projects almost as much as they love snacks, so if you have 10 to 15 minutes to spend preparing a snack with your child, you may want to try these easy options.
“Kale chips — my son loves them. Pre-heat the oven to 300 degrees F. Take any variety of kale off the stem and break it into bite-size pieces. Place it on a baking sheet and toss with a very small amount of extra virgin olive oil and sea salt. Bake for 10 minutes or until the kale is crispy like a chip.” — Randy Rabney
“Try gorilla sandwiches. Slice a cucumber in half, length-wise, and remove its seeds. Stuff the inside with hummus, and eat up!” — Kathy Kaehler, author of Mom Energy
“My kids always loved banana rounds because they had fun while snacking. All you need are bananas sliced into circles, a bowl of milk and various toppings like crushed nuts, crushed graham crackers or sprinkles or coconut. Dip the banana slices in milk with a fork, and then dip them into a topping.” — Karen Whiting
Watch: Kid approved snack recipes
Whether you’re making snacks for after school, dance class or football practice, find a quick snack that’s kid approved!
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