Kids Need a Mid-Morning Snack For Added Nutrition & to Keep Them Energetic: Readymade & Easy-To-Make Recipes for Healthy Snacks for Kids to Take to School (2020)

You need to choose what your kid snacks on with care. That is what smart snacking is about. Smart snacking is when you pay attention and choose healthy snacks instead of processed and packaged junk food. As boring as it sounds, it isn't all that bad or tasteless. Here are a few smart snacking strategies you might want to consider.

You must cultivate healthy snacking habits with kids at a young age. Not just providing the kids with a good education, but also helping them avoid potentially debilitating diseases in the future. You might not always be able to take time out and make snacks for the kids. Just choose one of the below nutrition-filled snacks for a healthy life. Snacking need not be that hard.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day for a balanced diet. Hence, it is suggested that most of the snacks for the kids be fruits and vegetables. Fruits are naturally sweet. Unless your child is a picky eater, you can add cut fruits or fruit salads. For picky eaters, you can include fruits in the form of fruit leathers, dried fruits, frozen fruits, smoothies, etc. As for vegetables, carrots, cucumber, celery sticks, cherry tomatoes, snap peas, edamame, peppers, etc., can be included in their snack boxes as such or as a salad. Peanut butter, hummus, and guacamole make for excellent dips.

Whole-grain foods are an essential part of kids' diets. The fibre, vitamins, and minerals present in them are much more than those in refined grains. A good source of whole grains is popcorn. Many consider popcorn to be junk food, but the unhealthy part is not the popcorn itself but the toppings. When purchasing popcorn in a bag. Microwaving the popcorn is another option. You can air fry the popcorn or on a stove and add toppings on your own. Drizzle a little oil or butter with a touch of garlic powder, parmesan cheese, or any other low sodium spices for toppings. However, younger children might need supervision since popcorn might be a choking hazard.

Calorie-dense nuts are a no-brainer inclusion when it comes to healthy snacks. Nuts are rich in healthy fats as well as fibre and antioxidants. The dietary fibre present in nuts is vital for growth in children. It is best to serve them with fruits since they are quite calorie-dense food. A handful of nuts with a serving or two of fruits are the best snack for kids to take to school. Again, the small size of the nuts may pose a choking hazard.

Another whole grain snack for the kids is crackers. Rather than the calorie-empty plain crackers go for whole grain options like rye crackers, Triscuits, whole wheat Matzos, etc. are healthy alternatives. They can be served as such or with toppings like peanut butter. But the best options are cheese and luncheon meat. Cheese is a good source of calcium along with protein and fat, not to forget magnesium and vitamins A, D. The combination of fibre along with these nutrients make for a satisfying snack that keeps them full between meals.

A childhood favourite of the kids is the go-to option for many parents when it comes to school snacks. There is a reason for that. Yoghurt is abundant in calcium and protein, important for growing bones. Apart from that, they also contain live bacteria, which is good for gut health. Look out for added sugars when purchasing yoghurt. The best option is to go for low-fat and low-sugar yoghurt. You can top it with honey and fresh fruits for added advantage.

Children's favourite cookies have taken a new avatar with the Banana Oat Cookies without using refined flour and sugar. The cookies get their sweetness from the bananas, hence imperative to use ripe bananas. The cookie mixture can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Try involving the kids in the process.

A healthy alternative to french fries, baked sweet potato fries count towards your vegetable servings in a day. Sweet potato is rich in beta-carotene, which your body converts to Vitamin A. The simple recipe doesn't need any prep and can be handled even during the morning rush.

Another healthy alternative to potatoes is the kale chips. Kale is a calorie-dense food rich in Vitamin C and a great source of Vitamin K. The baked kale chips are perfect for those school days when kids demand a crunchy snack. They can be made as a part of your weekend prep and stored for 5-7 days.

For those carrot cake lovers who would like a healthy option is the carrot cake energy bites. The dates and carrot render in the natural sweetness making it a sweet treat. Carrot, being a good source of vitamin K, potassium, fibre, beta carotene and antioxidants, is vital for eye health. Dates, on the other hand, has iron and protein, provides the much-needed energy making it an energy bite. Not only is it easy to make, but also can be refrigerated for later.

Peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a classic food loved by all kids. How about we make it healthy and mess-free? The whole-grain wheat flour, peanut butter and red grapes make for a satisfying snack, not compromising on the classic taste. Make these ahead and store them until you need to pack for school.

Replace your granola at home with our oats granola made with palm sugar for sweetener. Devoid of all sweeteners including sugar, agave syrup, molasses, and more, it is considered healthy and tasty too. Palm jaggery is high in iron, calcium and vitamin B. And this version can be made in a stovetop.

Corn, boiled or grilled, is every kid's and adult's favourite. With a few more ingredients, it becomes a wholesome meal for your child's snack box. Corn is a good source of vitamin c, thiamin, riboflavin and niacin. It also has a good amount of protein but low-fat content.

A snack made with paneer, and bread is sure to attract your child. It's quite a filling snack and can be made for tea time too. Paneer is rich in calcium and protein, both of which are necessary for growth. Instead of white bread, go for fresh whole wheat bread or multi-grain bread for added gains.

On those days, when only a potato would do, try the aloo tikki instead of potato fries. With the addition of peas, they are a healthy snack no one would refuse. Peas are rich in vitamin k and magnesium, the bone-building nutrients. And potato surprisingly abundant in potassium and vitamin c also contains fibre and resistant starch.

Next time your kids demand a pizza, why not treat them with the bread pizza? With a whole wheat bread and fresh mozzarella cheese, your kids are getting their day's worth of fibre, protein and calcium, not to mention the vegetables added in.