Snacks help increase energy levels during the day.
Snacks are an important part of a child's well-balanced diet. The food pyramid from the USDA shows that everyone including children should have six to 11 servings of whole grains, two to four servings of fruits, three to five servings of vegetables, two to three servings of milk and dairy, and two to three servings of lean meat and poultry. Snacks are a tasty way to help children reach the daily requirements of all food groups.
Fruits and Veggie Snacks
Veggies cut into small slices are a great snack.
Fruits and veggies are healthy snacks that kids can eat on the go. Choose from a wide variety of fruits and veggies. Pick fruits and veggies that your child enjoys and serve them as a snack anytime. To dress up celery for added nutritional value and enjoyment, cut into 2-in. sections. Spread peanut butter or flavored cream cheese in the crevice of the celery. Place raisins on top of the peanut butter.
For a new twist on sweet potatoes, wash and dry 2 medium sweet potatoes or yams. Slice into very thin slices. Place sweet potato slices in a shallow baking dish and lightly sprinkle with sea salt. Preheat over to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and bake sweet potato chips for 20 to 25 minutes or until edges curl upwards. Another delicious idea is to add a little bit of cinnamon to the sweet potato chips before you bake them. To make fruit more enjoyable, make your own fruit kabobs by skewering melon balls, grapes, apples, pear slices, berries or pineapple chunks.
Cheese
Cheese is a great snack for kids.
Cheese is packed with calcium. String cheese is a terrific choice for cheese on the go. It is individually packaged so you can toss it in a backpack or lunchbox. For an entertaining snack, make cheese shapes. Slice a brick of cheese into small squares and use a small cookie cutter to make stars, hearts, circles or any other shape you choose. Place these in a plastic bag to eat on the go or serve on a plate with some crackers at home.
Smoothies
Hide nutrients in smoothies by tossing in some vegetable juice.
Smoothies are easy to make you can use fresh or frozen fruit such as bananas, any kind of berries, kiwi or your favorite fruit. Add milk or a vegetable fruit juice mix and 1 cup of yogurt. Blend all ingredients in a blender until well blended. Pour into a cup and add a silly straw. Smoothies taste great and contain vitamins, calcium and protein.
Homemade Snack Mixes
Snack mixes are a versatile snack.
Homemade snack mixes are a good snack choice because you can cater them to specific tastes. You can add a favorite cereal with dried fruit, nuts, shredded coconut, popcorn, granola or pretzels. They are portable and handy to eat on the go or at home.
Yogurt
Yogurt makes a healthy snack.
Yogurt is delicious and healthy. It is packed with calcium and many other vitamins. You can get low-fat yogurt and serve it with some fresh or canned fruit and cottage cheese. Portable forms of yogurt for kids come in a wide variety of flavors.
Cheese Quesadillas
You can make cheese quesadillas quickly and most kids enjoy them. You can make a cheese quesadilla two different ways. The first way is to put a little bit of vegetable oil in a frying pan and heat it on medium heat. Place one tortilla in the pan. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on the tortilla and then top with another tortilla. Heat for two to three minutes and then flip and heat the other side. Serve plain or with sour cream. The other, quicker way to prepare a cheese quesadilla is to place one tortilla on a microwave-safe plate and sprinkle it with shredded cheddar cheese. Then top with a second tortilla and microwave for 1 minute and 30 seconds. Cut into pizza-size slices and serve.
Popcorn
Popcorn is a whole-grain snack.
Popcorn is a whole-grain snack that is low in calories. Microwave low-fat buttered or plain popcorn and serve with a glass of milk for a fast snack.
Tags: make cheese, sweet potato, cheddar cheese, cheese quesadilla, fruits veggies, great snack
