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Importance of Healthy Snacks for Kids

Source shutterstock.com I Giving snack for kid

Healthy snacks grow healthy kids. Kids have big nutritional needs but small stomachs. Healthy snacks can help. If children get too hungry they may become cranky or find it difficult to concentrate on a task. Healthy snacks help to satisfy hunger between meals and boost energy. They can also round out the diet, ensuring that children are getting all of the nutrients they need to fuel their growth and development. Learning to eat and enjoy healthy snacks encourages kids to develop healthy eating habits. A nutritious snack is a healthy snack.

Kids might seem like they don’t eat enough at a time but they make up for their calorie requirements during snack time. A healthy and nutritious snack helps build a healthy routine and ensures they stay focused and feeling full and energetic throughout the day. A few tips for parents who are struggling with healthy snack times:

  • Make sure the child has food items belonging to at least 2 food groups at a time on their plate.
  • Encourage the child to eat healthy snacks by making it fun for them.
  • Meals and snacks should be offered at fixed time so that they can identify when they are hungry.
  • Offer food in a set portion size depending upon the child’s appetite and the nutritional content of the food.
  • Give the kids a little choice in deciding their snacks as it helps to keep them interested.
  • Keep chocolates and candies as occasional treats.
  • It is essential to figure out when your child is hungry and when he is just seeking attention.
  • No TV, electronics, mobiles or other distractions should be allowed during meals and snacks.

Tips on Making Kids Eat Healthy Food

Source shutterstock.com I Tips on Making Kids Eat Healthy Food

TV commercials for junk food can make getting your kids eat well an uphill task. Factor in your own hectic schedule and it’s no wonder so many kids’ diets are built around convenience and takeout food. But switching to a healthy diet can have a profound effect on your children’s health, helping them maintain a healthy weight, avoid certain health problems, stabilise their moods, and sharpen their minds. A healthy diet can also have a profound effect on your child’s sense of mental and emotional well-being, helping to prevent conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and ADHD.

It is no secret, that kids find unhealthy, junk food more appetising and want to eat more of these than regular, homemade, healthy food. Some of the important tips to make your kids eat healthy food are:

  • Encourage your child to make healthy choices.
  • Offer a food item that you know they enjoy.
  • Avoid processed food as much as possible.
  • Lead by example, eat healthy food along with your child.
  • Offer side dishes, dips or healthy drinks.
  • Cook at home.
  • Keep some healthy snacks available for times when cooking is not an option.
  • Fruits make great snacks too.
  • Let your child read the food labels or read them out to him to give him an idea of what he is about to consume, and it would be a great habit to maintain later in life as well.
  • Offer limited portion sizes so that he doesn't get overwhelmed simply by looking at it.

5 Healthy Snack Items for Kids

Source shutterstock.com I Healthy Snack Items for Kids

Broccoli, Paneer & Peanut Sandwich Recipe

Source archanaskitchen.com I Broccoli, Paneer & Peanut Sandwich Recipe

If you are tired of making your kids eat broccoli then you should try making this tasty sandwich for them. A delicious and healthy snack which can be quickly prepared with minimal hassles. This sandwich is packed with proteins and nutrients.

Ingredients Required:

  • 4 whole wheat brown bread
  • 1 broccoli, cut into florets
  • 150 gm paneer (cottage cheese), crumbled (homemade preferred)
  • 4 tbsp roasted peanuts
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 2 tbsp red chilli sauce
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil

How to Prepare:

  • Boil a cup of water and pour it into a mixing bowl.
  • Add broccoli florets to the hot water and set it aside.
  • Heat oil in a pan and saute garlic until it turns light brown (this will not take more than 60 seconds).
  • Strain the florets out of the mixing bowl and stir-fry with the sauteed garlic in the pan for no more than 2 minutes to avoid over-cooking the broccoli and keeping the nutrients intact.
  • Add in the crumbled cottage cheese along with the salt, pepper and schezwan sauce (optional), mix well and saute.
  • Take the pan off the heat when done and add in the roasted peanuts and let it cool.
  • Apply butter on the sides of 2 slices of bread, put in the stuffing and make a sandwich.
  • Use a sandwich maker or toast on a heated pan until golden brown on either side.
  • Cut diagonally and serve with fresh juice or a smoothie.

Ragi Cookies

It is a well known fact that Ragi is one of the most beneficial grains that you can eat. At times kids don't like to eat Ragi but there are many ways by which you can turn it into a delicious snack and serve it to your picky eaters. It is known to be the best non-dairy source of calcium and it is very useful in growing children for their bones and teeth. These low-fat cookies make a great snack and provide instant energy in your kids.

Ingredients Required:

  • ½ cup homemade ragi or finger millet flour
  • ½ cup wheat flour
  • ½ cup powdered white sugar or organic jaggery
  • 50 gm butter (cold)
  • 1 tbsp baking powder (to be avoided when preparing for babies less than a year old)
  • Milk to knead

How to Prepare:

  • Sift together the ragi, wheat flour and baking powder in a mixing bowl.
  • Add cold butter and mix using your hands until a crumb-like texture is achieved.
  • Add the sugar or jaggery and mix.
  • Add in 1-2 tbsp of milk and knead to make a soft dough. Do not add too much milk as that would make the dough too soft or runny.
  • Refrigerate the dough for half hour.
  • Now, divide the dough into small balls and flatten to get the shape of a round cookie.
  • Line on a baking tray.
  • Use a fork to make stripes on the cookies in the tray to aid even baking.
  • Preheat the oven to 180°C and bake for 15-20 minutes at 180°C.
  • Keep a check in case the cookies bake quicker.
  • Remove, cool and store in an airtight container for up to 15 days.
  • These cookies are a great snack even for babies above 8 months provided they are made using jaggery.

Almond Coconut Granola Bars

Source cookieandkate.com I Almond Coconut Granola Bars

One of the best ways to ease your child's hunger is to give him something which is both tasty and healthy. Making granola bars at home is quite easy and simple and you can hand them to your preschooler at any time of the day. These granola bars are prepared using white oats. The carbohydrate, fibre and protein content along with the goodness of vitamins and minerals present in wheat make it a delicious and healthy snack. Here is a simple recipe you can use to make these and keep your child happy and healthy:

Ingredients Required:

  • 1 cup almonds, chopped
  • 1¾ cup instant oats (oats can also be processed to break them up if using old-fashioned oats)
  • 1 cup coconut flakes or shreds, preferably unsweetened
  • ½ tsp cinnamon powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup almond butter or peanut butter
  • ½ cup honey
  • 1½ tsp vanilla extract

How to Prepare:

  • Toast the almonds until they are aromatic and light brown along the edges.
  • Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
  • To the mixing bowl add the toasted almonds, coconut shreds or flakes, cinnamon, salt and oats and stir.
  • Whisk together the almond butter, honey and vanilla extract and add to the dry ingredients.
  • Mix well making sure to coat everything.
  • A drier mix will make firmer bars. If the mixture seems wet, you can add some more oats or if it seems too dry, add a little more honey to get the right texture.
  • Transfer to the baking tray and use a spoon to press down firmly and even it out.
  • Cover and refrigerate overnight for best results as the bars will have enough time to set properly.
  • Pull out using the parchment paper at the opposite sides.
  • Cut out the bars.
  • To help the bars retain their flavor for months, wrap in a freezer safe bag and freeze.

Mix Dal Steamed Dhokla

Source quicknhealthyrecipes.com I Mix Dal Steamed Dhokla

Dhokla is a light snack, but heavy in terms of nutrients. The carbohydrate, fat, proteins and minerals from the besan make it an extremely healthy snack for kids.

Ingredients Required for the Batter:

  • ½ cup chana dal
  • 1 cup urad dal
  • 1 cup moong dal
  • 1 cup rice
  • 5 tbsp green chilli and ginger paste (avoid or reduce when preparing for younger kids)
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tbsp red chilli powder (optional and best avoided for younger kids)
  • 2 tbsp oil for greasing
  • 2-3 cups of water
  • Salt to taste
  • ⅓ cup finely chopped coriander leaves

Ingredients Required for Tempering (Can be Avoided for Younger Children):

  • 4 tbsp oil
  • 1 tbsp mustard seeds
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds
  • 4 green chillies (chopped)

How to Prepare the Batter:

  • Wash all the lentils and soak them overnight.
  • Drain off the water and grind to a smooth, paste-like consistency using minimum quantity of water.
  • Pour the paste into a large mixing bowl and set aside for fermentation for about 6-7 hours.
  • Take out 3 cups of this batter in a different bowl and add salt, chilli-ginger paste, haldi and mix. Add water to fix it to pouring consistency.
  • Addition of Eno fruit salt at this point is optional. If you do, make sure to mix it in properly.
  • Grease the plate or idli-mould using oil.
  • Fill 1-2 inches of water in your steamer or cooker and place the steamer plate inside.
  • Steam for 15 minutes. Use a toothpick to check if the dhokla has cooked through.
  • Remove from the steamer and set it aside to cool.
  • For tempering, heat some oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and allow it to crackle, add in sesame seeds and chopped chillies.
  • Cut the pieces, garnish with the tempering and chopped coriander.
  • Serve hot.

Oats Idli

Oats helps keep the weight in check apart from being a very healthy and nutritious food. When oats idlis are prepared using vegetables like carrots, it only makes these even healthier and tastier.

Ingredients Required:

  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 3 tsp oil
  • 1 tsp mustard
  • ½ tsp urad dal
  • 1 tsp chana dal
  • ½ tsp jeera
  • Curry leaves
  • ½ tsp ginger paste
  • 2 finely chopped chills
  • 1 grated carrot
  • ¼ tsp haldi
  • ½ cup coarse rava or semolina
  • ½ cup dahi or yogurt
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • 7 cashews cut into halves
  • ½ tsp Eno fruit salt

How to Prepare:

  • Heat oil in a wok or kadhai and add mustard seeds, urad and chana dal along with cumin and curry leaves and let it splutter.
  • Now add the ginger paste and chillies and saute.
  • Add the carrots and haldi and saute again for 2 more minutes.
  • Add the rava and roast until fragrant.
  • Add powdered oats and combine well.
  • Take it off the flame and let the mixture cool.
  • Now add the curd and ½ cup water and mix to remove all the lumps.
  • Add coriander, salt and ½ cup water and mix until pouring consistency is reached.
  • Rest for 15-20 minutes to allow the rava to soak up the water.
  • Add Eno fruit salt and combine well.
  • Pour into greased idli moulds and steam for 15 minutes on medium flame.
  • Serve with sambar (less spicy version for kids) and coconut chutney.

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From our editorial team

When Planning Snacks, Maintain a Balance Between Taste and Health

When you are planning to prepare snacks for your kid it is important to keep a correct balance between taste and health. If your snacks are healthy but don't taste right to the kid then he will not have them whereas if your snacks are delicious but not healthy they may have an adverse impact on your kid's health, something which you would never want. We hope this BP Guide would have helped you with some ideas which your kid is surely going to like, that will also take care of his health. Stay connected with us for more such engaging content.