5 Healthy Snack Recipes For Kids

It can be hard to find healthy snacks for kids, but luckily there are lots of easy recipes you can make at home. Check out this list of my favorite snack recipes!

Ingredients

1 small package strawberries ½ cup plain organic yogurt 1-2 tablespoons honey

Preparation:

Wash and chop strawberries. Add to blender or food processor, followed by the yogurt and honey. Continue blending until smooth. Serve with organic apple slices or chunks of banana for dipping! Since apples are low in sodium, pancake syrup is a delicious alternative to honey!

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons chia seeds 3 tablespoons flax seed 1 tablespoon goji berries ½ cup unsweetened almond milk (see our article on non-dairy milk for more options!)

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients in a glass jar. May also add chocolate, vanilla, or other flavors. Cover the jar and keep it in the fridge overnight. The next day enjoy! Or make it the night before for an on-the-go snack!

Ingredients:

1 apple ½ cup plain organic yogurt ¼ teaspoon cinnamon or other spices (nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice) Optional: Add granola or oatmeal to make it a breakfast/brunch dish!

Preparation:

Peel and chop the apple. Mix with the yogurt until well combined. Sprinkle cinnamon on top and enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 large bananas 1 tablespoon almond or peanut butter Optional: Add chocolate chips to make it a dessert! Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Slice the banana into thin pieces (about 4-5 slices per banana). Mix with almond/peanut butter until well combined. Spread on a baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until brown.

Preparation

Slice the banana into slices about 1/4 inch thick. Use 2 cups of sliced banana to make 5 popsicles. Mix with chocolate syrup and pour the mixture into molds, covering the bottom as well as halfway up the mold (if you want to have a treat that melts in your mouth, don't go past halfway). Insert sticks into the popsicles. Freeze overnight, until solid. Un-mold the popsicles and enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 cup watermelon 2 tablespoons lemon juice Optional: Add sugar or honey to taste, if needed.

Preparation:

Wash watermelon and cut it into small pieces. Add watermelon and lemon juice to blender or food processor and blend until smooth! Serve in a tall glass with a straw (so all the tasty watermelon juices can be sipped up!)

Ingredients:

1-2 cucumbers 5 strawberries Optional: add chia seeds, chocolate chips, oatmeal, or granola for additional flavors!

Preparation:

Wash cucumbers and strawberries. Remove tops of strawberries, if needed. Peel the cucumber, removing the seeds before chopping it up into pieces you can chew easily. Add all ingredients to blender or food processor until smooth (add chia seeds now, if using). Serve chilled!

Benefits of healthy snacks for kids

Healthy snacks can lead to healthier children, fewer visits to the doctor, and a longer lifespan. Kids who have healthy snacks throughout the day have better focus and concentration which leads to better productivity in school.

Healthy kids are happy kids! Parents should be aware of what they're feeding their kids during snack time. High-sugar foods can lead to mood swings, hyperactivity, and a shorter attention span.

You can make healthy snacks at home by simply replacing any processed foods with fresh fruits and vegetables. Many kids love to dip their fruit in yogurt or nut butter which makes them even healthier!

Conclusion

Healthy snacks for kids can come in many forms. The best thing parents can do is to provide a large variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, organic when possible, and to not force their children to eat. Snacks should be seen as an opportunity to fuel the bodies of growing children and give them healthy options rather than junk food.