Fruit is a healthy, sweet snack to serve in a preschool.
Preschool snacks must be both healthy and appealing to the preschooler so that they are actually inclined to eat it. Vegetables are not the most practical snack in a preschool room as it is often difficult to persuade a child to eat a vegetable in the allotted time. Save the veggies for lunch or dinner when there is more time to prepare and allow for consumption. Avoid unnecessary struggle by focusing on healthy fruits, proteins and whole grains.
Fruit Salad
Fruits contain natural sugars that are both healthy and tasty. Most kids have little problem consuming fruit. Serve fruit either in slices or as a fruit salad. A fun activity to get the kids physically involved in snack time is to have them help the adults prepare a fruit salad. All fruits should already be washed and cut before given to the kids to assemble. Place fruits, including chopped apples, banana, pineapple, melon and grapes, in individual bowls for each child to add to the larger bowl. Allow one or two children to take turns stirring the salad together. Serve as is or with yogurt on top.
Crackers and Cheese
Whole-grain crackers with cheese are a quick, healthy snack that most young children enjoy. Whole-grain crackers give a salty carbohydrate energy boost that most fast-moving preschoolers need. String cheese or cheddar cheese cut into strips or cubes add protein and calcium to the plate. Serve cheese cubes with forks and demonstrate for the children that the cheese can be placed on top of the cracker for a new flavor combination.
Yogurt
Plain or low-sugar flavored yogurt is a common snack for preschoolers as it contains calcium, protein and sugars for boosted energy. Most children love yogurt because it is sweet and slightly reminiscent of ice cream. Yogurt can either be served in individually purchased cartons or scooped into a bowl. During the summer, freeze the yogurt in the containers or in ice cube trays for an icy refreshing treat with all the same health benefits. For a heartier snack, serve the yogurt with fresh or dried fruit and low-sugar granola or granola bars.
Sandwiches
Sandwiches are not just for lunchtime as they make for a nutritious and tasty snack. A sandwich refers to anything that is layered between hand-friendly foods, so there are many healthy options that can be used to create sandwiches other than whole-wheat bread. Circular apple slices, miniature rice cakes, whole-wheat crackers and mini-bagels can all be used to create kid-friendly snack sandwiches. Fill the sandwiches with cream cheese, jam, jelly, smooth peanut butter, hummus, cheese or lean deli meats.
Snack Mixes
Snack mixes are basic items that can be made ahead of time and brought out at a moment's notice. To keep snack mixes healthy, make your own rather than purchasing pre-made mixes that contain oil and sugars. Kid-friendly items for snack mixes include whole-grain cereals without added sugar, lightly salted peanuts and almonds, dried fruits such as raisins, bananas and apricots, small cheese or whole-grain crackers, and miniature pretzels. You can add a small amount of semisweet chocolate chips to the mix to add flavor and appeal without detracting from the health value.
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