How To Satisfy Picky Eaters: 6 Fun Healthy Kids Snacks

Posted by Matt on January 14th, 2010 at 08:00am

Once the school day is done, the kids only have one thing in mind: food. What they usually crave is something probably full of fat, sugar, salt and calories. What you want them to eat is something healthy. You can find a balance between the two conflicting tastes. Here are six great ideas for fun healthy kids snacks you won’t mind serving and kids won’t mind eating.

Fresh Fruit – Chock full of natural sugar, fruit is a sweet treat with the added bonus of lots of vitamins and nutrients. Because of its sweetness, fruit is a great alternative for children who crave candy. Cater your snacks around the types of fruits your child loves. To expand their tastes, also serve seasonal fruit because it is more likely to be sweeter. This Simple Fruit Salad from the blog Elana’s Pantry is a great healthy snack to serve to kids.

Fresh Vegetables – Parents always have, and always probably will, try in vain to get children to eat their veggies. Although considering how nutritious and healthy vegetables are, it’s no wonder parents wants kids to eat veggies. But considering vegetables naturally have no salt, no fat and little sugar, it’s no wonder kids avoid them. To get the kids eating veggies, try a tasty low-fat dip. Hummus is a terrific low-fat dip that kids love, and it tastes great with carrots, peppers, broccoli and many more veggies. The blog EsyRecipes has a great recipe for hummus for you to make.

Low-Fat Dairy – This is a great source for protein and calcium, and kids will gobble it up. It is low in sugar but still very much kid friendly. Serve a bowl of non-fat yogurt topped with fruit, cubes of low-fat Cheddar cheese or a glass of skim milk. So long as it’s low fat, dairy is a healthy snack option even picky eaters will enjoy. The blog Kitchen Stewardship has a great collection of yogurt recipes and usage ideas.

Whole Grains – Chips and crackers are long-time snack staples universally beloved by kids. Now, many companies make whole grain versions of popular chips and crackers. Whole grain products provide additional fiber, protein and other nutrients than processed grains. Pair whole grain snacks with a healthy dip like hummus or topped with low fat cheese. If you are feeling adventurous and want to make whole grain snacks at home, then try this Whole-Wheat crackers recipe from Lifespy.com.

Nuts – Yes, nuts are high in fat, but still nowhere close in fat content to popular kids snacks like cookies. Nuts are a great source of protein, meaning kids become full more easily and stay full for longer. This satiating snack is tasty raw or toasted. Buy nuts in bulk and mix them together yourself. Keep nuts fresh for months by stashing them in your freezer.

Smoothies – If your child just absolutely needs a sweet drink, skip the soda and make a smoothie instead. Full of fruit and low fat yogurt, smoothies provide a nutrient-rich drink that actually makes kids feel full. Smoothies are simple to make, and kids love them. This tropical green smoothie recipe from the blog Everything is a great kids snack because it’s sweet, and kids will dig its funky color.

Tags: food, healthy eating, meal planner, nutrition, what to eat

Under healthy eating Tags: food, healthy eating, meal planner, nutrition, what to eat