Ease your day with these kids snack ideas!
Who knew that one of the hardest things you would have to do in life is work out what to feed your kids EVERY SINGLE DAY OF YOUR LIFE!
Well I've got you covered with some quick wins for snacks.
With my kids I find that if I don't get organised with afternoon tea - they literally hit the cupboard and grab packet after packet of the saltiest chip, cracker or sweet biscuit they can find!
However, If I quickly put together a 2 min platter - by this I mean grabbing a few healthier options out of the pantry/fridge and putting them on a plate with with some of their preferred treat foods, it does make for a much more balanced afternoon tea. Honestly, try it - you'll see what I mean :)
Snacks can provide an important source of nutrition for our children, so it’s important to include healthy options whenever possible.
Karina’s top kids snack ideas:
** Always include a variety of fruit or veg
Chopped apple (wedges or sliced in thin rounds like chips),
Fresh fruit platter - chopped banana, blueberries, strawberries, kiwi
Cucumber and cheese sandwiches (cheese in between 2 cucumber rounds)
Carrot different ways - sticks, circles, grated or peeled and curled into rounds using a toothpick for fun.
Carrot sticks with a side of cream cheese (to dip into)
Mini toasts with mashed avocado
Bliss balls – Karina’s recipe
Toast with nut butter
Fruit skewers – melon, grapes, strawberries, pineapple chunks (can also use toothpick)
Mixed nuts (with or without dried fruit)
Sliced apple with peanut butter and sultanas or chocolate buds
Corn chips with guacamole
Celery boats with peanut butter and sultanas (and choc buds for a treat)
Chocolate nuts– Karina’s recipe
Rice crackers with pre loaded hommus or pesto
Corn chips (plain) with salsa dip
Dates stuffed with peanut butter
Black bean brownie – Karina’s recipe with strawberries
Popcorn (cobs lightly salted or home made with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar or nutritional yeast)
Homemade muffin– Karina’s recipe
Bowl of cereal or porridge
Scrambled eggs on toast
Smoothie or milkshake
Celery boats with cream cheese and sultanas
Healthy biscuits or choc chip cookies– Karina’s recipe
Veggie face – made with chopped capsicum, cucumber, cherry tom, sultanas, carrot
Jar roasted capsicum or cornichons (baby cucumber)
Tinned baby corn
Tinned beetroot
Healthy muesli slice
Toast with avocado and tomato
Homemade banana bread – Karina’s recipe
Pimento olives (green with pepper in it). or any other olive they like!
Dry cereal - eg cheerios (often these cereals are iron fortified)
Pita bread pizza with tomato salsa, herbs and cheese
Cheese and crackers
Greek yoghurt with granola and honey
Cheese toasty (toasted sandwich)
Crumpet with melted cheese
Homemade fruit ice blocks (blended berries and yoghurt)
Mini pizzas made with English muffins, tomato salsa (or low sugar sauce), dried oregano and shredded cheese
Baked beans on toast
Rice cakes or corn thins with cream cheese
Homemade trail mix with nuts, seeds and dried fruit
Baked sweet potato fries
Edamame (frozen or fresh)
Frozen peas (on a hot afternoon)
Hard boiled eggs (with sprinkle of curry powder, salt or pepper)
Cottage cheese with sliced fruit and honey
Crumpet with yoghurt, banana, honey and cinnamon
Tin of tuna
Mini toasts with pesto
Roasted chick peas with spices
Tin of 4 bean mix
Fruit salad with dollop of yoghurt
Berries with ricotta mouse and sprinkle of nuts or chocolate buds
Pizza scrolls (puff pastry, tomato paste, herbs, cheese)
Remember - young children can receive 30-50% of their nutrition from snacks, so make them count!
Karina xx