Kids, when they're growing up, tend to change a lot in terms of behavior as well as their likes and dislikes. Their appetite also changes as they are growing. The most crucial part of raising your kids is the toddler stage and the school age. Why? Because at this phase of growing, kids tend to be very picky when it comes to food and you need to be patient and understanding in feeding them.
However, you can be understanding, and at the same time, be in control of their diet.
Kids tend to eat more snacks than meals, but we all know eating too many snacks will make them lose their appetite for the next meal. Most snacks that kids love are those that are packaged and ready to eat, which can also be extremely unhealthy.
Foods like that often have artificial ingredients already, which is not always a good thing for our system to process. If you prepare snacks in a balanced and healthy way, eating snacks before meals will not become a problem.
Snack time is the best opportunity for you to teach your kids to eat right and healthy. Whether you're a hands-on parent or a busy parent, here are ten healthy easy-to-prepare snacks that you can make for your kids.
Nuts
This snack contains healthy fats, fiber, and are good antioxidants. For growing children, dietary fats are very important. However, a lot of doctors would prohibit nuts due to the possibility of allergic reactions. Nuts also pose a choking hazard for children especially little ones, so it's better to guide your kid when they're eating nuts.
Yogurt
This is a perfect snack for kids because it is a good source of calcium and protein. Although some yogurts contain live bacteria, this can be beneficial to your child's digestive and immune systems. It is best to feed children full-fat yogurt and not the ones that contain artificial sugar. You can always mix the yogurt with natural honey.
Trail mix
Trail mixes are good because you can make your own version of the mix. You can add chocolate for your kid's daily sugar intake. If you want to go for a healthier option, you can always mix nuts, dried fruits, and whole-grain cereals. This is also the best snack for when your kids are on the go.
Popcorn
This classic movie snack is actually healthier than you think it is compared to other snacks. Popcorn is a very nutritious whole grain snack and it is also easy to prepare. You can drizzle a little butter on it or even top it off with some grated cheese.
Oatmeal
We all know this might sound good for breakfast, but you can always get oatmeal as a snack at any time of the day. Oats are rich in soluble fiber which can be very healthy and beneficial to your kid's digestive tract. To keep your oatmeal a bit healthier, use milk instead of water, and instead of mixing it with artificial sweetness, add some honey or cinnamon on it and mix it in with your kid's favorite fruit.
Fruit smoothies
Smoothies are very healthy not only to kids but to everyone of all ages as well. You may mix in your favorite fruit or veggie into the blender with some honey, cinnamon, and milk. Smoothies also give you tons of options to choose from and you can try different fruits and vegetables every day for your kids to try.
Hard-boiled eggs
Eggs are very rich in protein and several vitamins such as vitamin B12, riboflavin, and selenium. This can be a great snack for kids. Eggs contain necessary vitamins for better and proper brain development such as choline.
Oat cookies
We've mentioned how oatmeals are highly nutritional to kids. Homemade oatmeal cookies can also be a great snack for kids. You can make banana oatmeal cookies, chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, or even raisin oatmeal cookies. Also, instead of using refined sugar, you can always get the sweetness from the banana or chocolate chips.
Sweet potato fries
Sweet potatoes are very rich in beta-carotene, which is a nutrient that can be made into vitamin A in your body. This is also good for eyesight enhancements and to the skin. Also, instead of frying it, you can bake your sweet potato fries and serve it to your kids.
Carrot sticks
This was my personal favorite as a child. Carrots are very rich in vitamin A which is good for the eyesight. You can always pair your carrot sticks or other veggie sticks and a delicious dip, such as chickpeas spread, salad dressing or melted cheese.
