Veggie Sticks with Hummus
Now that children are home for the summer you need to have plenty of snacks on hand so I am posting this article again from last summer for ideas. These nutritious snacks won’t spoil their appetite for meals. I have compiled a “30 for 30” list of 30 nutritious snacks for 30 days! These provide fiber and include a fruit, vegetable, protein or complex carb.
Veggie sticks with hummus (celery, carrots, zucchini, mini bell peppers) | Cheese slices with whole wheat or whole grain crackers | Apple slices with nut butter | Greek yogurt with berries | Watermelon slices | Homemade popsicles made with pureed fruit |
Cheese toast on whole grain bread | Bananas dipped in chocolate and frozen | Homemade no-bake energy bars* | Cottage cheese in toasted pita bread | Air-popped or stove-top popcorn | Fruit and cheese slices |
Chocolate chip rice cake with nut butter | Homemade smoothie with milk, yogurt and frozen berries | Cheese rollup in a corn tortilla | Hard-boiled eggs | Pita chips with cowboy salsa* | Banana oat muffins or any fruit/veggie muffins* |
Fresh fruit skewers | Edamame | Homemade granola in yogurt* | Frozen toasted waffle with nut butter | Dark chocolate dipped strawberries | Dried fruit with nuts |
Kale or sweet potato chips | Turkey wraps in whole wheat tortilla | Roasted chickpeas | Roasted tofu bites on whole grain crackers | No sugar added applesauce | Mini pizza on whole wheat English muffin |
* see below
*Check out the fruit and veggie muffin recipe on superhealthykids.com
Or the carrot zucchini muffins on cupcakesandkalechips.com
*There are numerous no bake energy bars and homemade granola recipes online. You can choose which ingredients your kids are most likely to eat. Look at this recipe for No Bake Energy Bites from gimmesomeoven.com
The kale and sweet potato chips and the roasted chickpeas can be made in an air fryer or regular oven.
Fresh Fruit Skewers
*Cowboy salsa, aka Texas caviar, is easy to throw together by combining low salt canned items such as black and/or pinto beans, corn, chopped tomatoes, and chopped sweet onion, then add avocado, cilantro and lime juice. Drain the beans and corn. Use pita chips or whole grain chips for dipping.
Cowboy Salsa
Apple Slices with Peanut Butter
For nut-free substitutes (for peanut or tree nut allergies) you can try tahini (made from sesame seeds), sunflower seed butter, granola butter or soy nut butter.
***I know I have said this before in other posts but children under 4 years of age should not have whole nuts. Be wary of hard crunchy vegetables and fruit, and popcorn before age 2.
Mix and match snack ideas by keeping cut fruit, fresh veggie sticks, nut butter, and cheese slices on hand as well as whole grain crackers, Greek yogurt and popcorn. You can feel good about your child snacking with these healthy options!
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