Every parent prioritises their children’s health, no matter which culture you grew up in. You know what they say: Health is wealth. A big part of staying healthy is eating well and snacking is a part of this. Especially after school snacks that will get your kids through the evening until dinner.
As school is back in session, preparing kids snacks is something we all need to think about. Snack time can be the perfect time to brighten things up and get healthy. It is crucial to make snacks with a good amount of balance. It will make the kids keep going throughout the day and fuel their bodies and brains.
Let’s get realistic for a moment, in the real world of parenting, it is impossible to make a perfect choice, but we all try. You may allow your kids to have some ready-made snacks such as potato chips and gummy bears once in a while, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But if you can squeeze some extra nutrients into your kids at snack time then you should go for it!
Applewiches
Parents are in a constant search fun snack ideas. This is one of our favourites, the applewich! This is a combination of a sandwich and an apple. Spreading nut butter between two slices of apple cuts out of bread, gets one of your child's five a day into them and the nut butter is packed full of energy!
Go Nuts
Nuts are great way to snack either at home, school or on the go. Nuts provide good fats, and satisfy cravings. Crunchy nuts have so many health benefits they provide Vitamin E, calcium, iron and magnesium and much more. Consuming nuts on a daily basis has significant benefits and can prevent certain illnesses. Add them to yoghurt, salads or just eat them straight!
Granola Bars
Granola bars are packed with so much goodness and are full of powerhouse ingredients. Kids who engage with physical activities require energy, so keep a granola bar in your kid's bag so they can grab one when they're peckish. Baking granola bars on the weekend with your kids is fun and it allows you and your kids to control the ingredients whilst gives them the freedom to choose. Go for store-bought if you're tight on time, or have a crack at making them from scratch, whatever works for you!
Rainbow veggies and fruits
Fruits and veggies are home to powerful antioxidants that help to boost your immune system. You can never go wrong with juicy and sweet fruits for an after school snack. Vegetables and fruits are low in calories and contain an enormous amount of nutrients. Get creative and cut your fruit and veggies into fun shapes using cookie cutters!
With everyone busy working and studying, we often find no time to bake. Use your weekend wisely and start baking muffins, cookies or other healthy snacks. If you struggle with time try amking somethign freexer friendly like muffins. Bake a big batch and freeze as you need them!
Yoghurt
Yoghurt is a popular fermented milk product which contains lots of nutrients like Calcium, Vitamin D. It is recommended as a probiotic food which is great for promoting a healthy gut. We understand that some kids find plain yoghurt boring. To level up the yoghurt game, you can add chia seeds, nuts and, fresh fruits to make it more lively.
Helpful tips
Planning your snack ahead of time makes it easier to ensure balance and variety, as well as making your weekly shopping list that much easier to plan! Get your kids involved in planning their own snacks as this will help promote their own feeling of independence!
Happy snacking!
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