Tips on Preparing Healthy Snacks for Your Kids

Now that the kids are back in school, it’s time to figure out what they should eat while they’re there. Of course, there’s lunch every day but what about a snack?

I like to have a snack during the course of my busy day and our children do as well. Why not have them be part of the act by having them help prepare the snack they’re going to take? They may be more interested in eating what you send when they’ve had a hand in making it. 

You can’t beat peanut butter (unless you’re allergic to it!) Let your child make half a PB or PB&J sandwich. OR, have them cut the sandwich into shapes with a cookie cutter. Stars, moons and hearts, any cut-out shapes always make snacks a little more fun.

Same goes for cheese. Buy some cheese slices, some tiny cookie cutters and cut out cheese shapes to take them to school with some crackers. 

Together make some mini-muffins. Any muffin recipe will work; banana bread, zucchini or carrot. Using small muffin tins, make a batch or two of mini-muffins. You can freeze them all and then stick a couple on a bag to take to school. Add cream cheese or some string cheese to add some protein.

Cereal: It’s not just for breakfast anymore. Let your child bag up a little of his/her favorite dry cereal along with some dried fruit –cherries, raisins or cranberries. A small box of raisins is also a fun treat.

And don’t forget, regular ‘ole fruit. It’s tried and true and can’t be beat. Let your child choose a whole piece, like a banana, and draw a fun face on it with a ball point pen. Or, slice some fruit and place it in a special plastic container that your child has decorated with markers. A little citrus juice on the sliced fruit will help keep it from browning, but a little brown never hurt anyone.

Snack mix: Together you and your child can “invent” a snack mix. Things like pre-popped corn, nuts, dried coconut and fruit are all good ingredients. 

Bring on the new school year with some fun and creative snacks made by your star student.