Help your kids avoid the cookie jar when they get home from school with these fun, smart snacks just for them! From “dip”-able treats to 100-calorie faves, this list will have you covered.
Dip dip away
Kids love the fun of dipping treats, so serve up some of these cool combos for a satisfying snack. Keep a helping of your favorite healthy dip recipe mixed up in the fridge for the kids to dig into when they come home from school. In a time squeeze? Opt for pre-made dips like yogurt or peanut butter. Check out these fun dipping ideas:
- Apple slices + low-fat yogurt
- Banana slices + peanut butter
- Carrots + hummus
- Celery + cheese and apple dip
- Pita wedges + avocado dip
Popcorn treats
Pop up some SmartPop! for a tasty snack! For just 100 calories, you can enjoy a whopping six cups of 94% fat-free popcorn. The best part? Popcorn is ready in less than three minutes, so you can get more done on those busy afternoons and keep your kids smiling! Treat your kids to a fun flavor twist with these ideas for jazzing up plain popcorn:
- Whip up these sugar-free low-carb popcorn balls
- Top popcorn with zesty seasonings like ranch or onion powder
- Turn the salty snack sweet with a kettle-corn version and a sprinkle of cinnamon
- Stir up popcorn with marshmallow fluff and dried cranberries
- Add popcorn into cookie batter before baking for some extra crunch
Check out more fun, flavored popcorn recipes >>
Keep it quick
We all know that we’re more likely to opt for unhealthy snacks when we’re in a hurry – and this goes double for kids. Avoid that trap by stocking your kitchen and car with a variety of quick, yet healthy snacks. Pack small bags with a variety of crackers, spreads, cheeses and toppings for kids to build “stackable snacks” on the go. Here are some fun buildable combos:
- Crackers + sliced turkey + sliced cheese
- Celery slices + peanut butter + raisins
- Graham crackers + marshmallow fluff + chocolate chips
More quick snack ideas for kids>>
Spice it up
Kids would eat their favorite snack every meal if we’d let them, but even they get tired of the same old flavors every day. Keep their favorite snacks fresh and fun by topping it with seasonings from your spice cabinet – like cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, or nutmeg sprinkled on individual yogurt cups or fresh fruit. Encourage your children to mix and match fun seasonings while they eat to spice things up!
- Vanilla yogurt + pumpkin pie spice + granola
- Apple slices + cinnamon
- Sliced banana + vanilla yogurt + cocoa powder
- Cherry yogurt + nutmeg + graham cracker crumbs
Did you know?Chips, candy and other snack foods account for up to 27 percent of the daily caloric intake for children ages 2 to 18, according to findings by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. |
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