When I first became a mom, 9 years ago, I didn’t always think about the foods I was feeding my daughter. It wasn’t until she was a couple years old and I started to have stomach issues. Then, I didn’t know I had Crohn’s, but I knew food played a big factor in the way I was feeling.
I started to research different things like GMO and additives. This is also around the time when stores started selling more organic and healthier foods. I tried to pay more attention to what I was buying.
As I’ve gotten older, had a couple more babies, and found out my stomach issues were caused from Crohn’s, I’ve made it even more of a priority to eat healthier. Since researchers have found that hereditary, genetic, and environmental factors can contribute to Crohn’s it’s important for me to show my kids how to be healthy.
As a busy mom, I know it’s sometimes easier to have prepackaged snacks. 𝙸’𝚖 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚐𝚞𝚒𝚕𝚝𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚍𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜. However, a lot of them are extremely unhealthy, full of added sugars and artificial ingredients. Instead of offering your child processed snacks try offering them more whole foods that provide energy and nutrition.
Below is my list of 10 easy healthy snacks for kids.
1. Yogurt
Yogurt is an excellent source of calcium and protein. Some yogurts even contain live bacteria, which benefits your digestive system. Most yogurts that are marketed to kids are full of sugars. Instead, try looking for a plain, full-fat yogurt. You can even make a yogurt parfait by layering plain yogurt with berries topped with granola.
2. Celery with Peanut Butter
Celery and peanut butter provide a good source of carbs, protein, and fat. You can also add raisins for a fun way to eat vegetables, sometimes referred to as ‘ants on a log’. Cut a celery stalk into three or four pieces, and spread the inside of the celery with peanut butter, and top with raisins.
3. Hard Boiled Eggs
Eggs provide a high quality of protein and several vitamins and minerals. You can keep hard boiled eggs in the refrigerator for up to 7 days, for an easy snack.
4. Energy Balls
Energy Balls taste like a granola bar or cookie dough, but are made with healthy ingredients. They are also super easy to make! They only require one bowl, 5 ingredients, and about 10 minutes of your time to prepare.
𝗡𝗼 𝗕𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀
𝗜𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀:
- 𝟷 𝚌𝚞𝚙 𝚘𝚏 𝚛𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚊𝚝𝚜
- 𝟷/𝟺 𝚌𝚞𝚙 𝚘𝚏 𝚞𝚗𝚏𝚒𝚕𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚢
- 𝟷/𝟸 𝚌𝚞𝚙 𝚘𝚏 𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚞𝚝 𝚋𝚞𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛
- 𝟷/𝟹 𝚌𝚞𝚙 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚒 𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚙𝚜
- 𝟷 𝚝𝚋𝚜𝚙 𝚘𝚏 𝚏𝚕𝚊𝚡𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚊 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚜
𝙼𝚒𝚡 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚠𝚕. 𝙿𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚠𝚕 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚘𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝟷 𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚛. 𝚁𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚛𝚘𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚡𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚜. 𝚂𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚣𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚢 𝚐𝚘-𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚗𝚊𝚌𝚔.
5. Pistachios
These are high in healthy fat, fiber and antioxidants. If you get the shelled pistachios it takes kids longer to eat, and that itself could be a plus. Just make sure your kids are old enough to eat nuts, as they can be a choking hazard.
6. Apples
Apples are my family’s go-to healthy fruit. Apples are a good source of vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants. Apples also contain natural sugars, so it’s best to have apples in the morning instead of that late snack.
7. Cheese
I’m not taking about processed cheese, I’m talking about real cheese. Real cheese will not have a long ingredient list. I personally think the best way to buy cheese is in a block. Then you can cut it up in squares or slices. Cheese is mostly made up of protein and fat. It’s also an excellent source of calcium. Protein will help kids feel more full in between meals. Another positive, studies have shown that children who eat cheese are less likely to get cavities.
8. Popcorn
Popcorn isn’t all that bad! We’re all so used to the extra buttery, greasy popcorn we get at the movies. Popcorn is actually a whole grain. Try to avoid buttered or flavored popcorn
9. Pickles
Pickles are cucumbers that have been fermented in salt and water. Some pickles contain probiotics, that are good for your digestive system. Try looking for pickles that don’t contain vinegar, as they don’t have probiotics. Also, avoid sweet pickles since they are high in added sugars.
10. Hummus
I don’t know about you, but my kids love chips and dip. This is a healthy alternative. Hummus is a thick and creamy spread that is made from chickpeas. It contains fiber and antioxidants. You can have hummus with many different foods, but my favorite is with pita chips or kale chips.
𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀
𝗜𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀:
- 𝟷 𝚜𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚞𝚗𝚌𝚑 𝚘𝚏 𝚔𝚊𝚕𝚎
- 𝟷 𝚝𝚋𝚜𝚙 𝚘𝚏 𝚘𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚌𝚊𝚍𝚘 𝚘𝚒𝚕
- 𝟷 𝚝𝚜𝚙 𝚘𝚏 𝚐𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚌 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚍𝚎𝚛
- 𝟷/𝟺 𝚝𝚜𝚙 𝚘𝚏 𝚜𝚊𝚕𝚝
𝚃𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚔𝚊𝚕𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚙𝚒𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚜, 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚑 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚛𝚢 𝚒𝚝. 𝚃𝚘𝚜𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚒𝚕 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜. 𝚂𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚗 𝚊 𝚌𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚒𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚝 𝟹𝟻𝟶°𝙵 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝟷𝟶–𝟷𝟸 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚝𝚎𝚜. 𝚆𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚢, 𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚔𝚊𝚕𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚢 𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚗.
That Mama Said 