7 Healthy Snack Ideas for kids

I am often asked about healthy snack ideas for kids so I figured I’d do a post to tell you what my kids eat for snack either in school or after.

1. popcorn

My kids and I just love corn! We pop them, steam them and even roast them when we get the chance. I like to get organic, non-gmo kernels and just pop them myself on stove top since the microwavable bags available in store contains perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) which is labeled a carcinogen by the EPA. This substance has been linked to cancer and infertility so you need to be careful since microwavable popcorn is extremely popular and most people aren’t even aware of the harmful side effects of this convenience food!

 

2. Granola Bites

These Granola Bites have been an instant hit with my boys. They love that these have chocolate chips and I love that I get to control the quality of ingredients and the amount of sugar that go into these.

3. String Cheese

I like Trader Joe’s brand. It’s best to eat organic to avoid the hormones that come with conventional dairy.

4. Fruits and veggies

My kids don’t like fruit at school because it just doesn’t stay as fresh but I make it a point to give it to them once home. Lately I have started putting apples and pears in the refrigerator instead of leaving them in the fruit basket on the kitchen counter top. I wash and dry them once home from the store and it’s there ready from them whenever they want.

As for vegetables, I usually have baby carrots and cucumbers cut up and ready to eat. They have also liked zoodles (zucchini noodles) in place of regular pasta so I am planning to make more of those. Chocolate Zucchini Muffins are another way I get veggies into them. I have to say though, vegetables are not something they will reach for if given a choice so I still need to be creative. That is why I say start them young!

5. Nice Cream

My kids love this frozen treat. So easy to make too!

6. Smoothies

Smoothies are a great way to get some nutrients in and tide them over till dinner. I make the kids’ ones with more fruit and a little honey to make it more palatable. I always add one green, either spinach or kale and my little one loves it even more when I call it Hulk Smoothie!

7. Packaged Snack Bars etc.

I’ll be honest, there are times I buy cookies and bars from the store when I don’t have the time to bake but I try to keep this to a minimum. Some of my go to’s:

• Lara Bars. These are minimally processed, few ingredient date based bars that are gluten and GMO free. Plus they only use ethically sourced, Fair Trade chocolate.
• Clif ZBars My kids love these bars but they do have more sugar than I would like. 
• Enjoy Life Foods Soft Baked Cookies. These are a recent discovery and a good choice for school treats since they are free of 14 common allergens e.g. wheat, soy, nuts, corn, eggs etc.
• Kettle Chips and popcorn. I try buying the ones that have the Non-GMO project seal on it. Cape cod, Kettle Brand and Skinny Pop to name a few.

Check out the Environmental Working Group’s food scores to see how your favorite  products rate.

So there you have it! These are some of our favorite snacks. Let me know what you think and what you do to keep the kids happy in-between meals!