Parenting Tips: Healthy Snacks for Kids

My kids love to snack. They are always hungry. And being the good mom that I am I buy lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains - stuff that is good for them. Always with the best intentions. I walk through the grocery store with visions of baking healthy muffins and oatmeal cookies, tossing up delicious salads and blending frosty smoothies - all chock full of nutrition and “good” calories. Ha!

I arrive home from the store with bags (reusable, of course) full of healthy snacks - or actually raw materials that have the potential to become healthy snacks - no, really, let’s just call it bags full of work to do. It’s true, the healthiest foods take time to prepare. Pre-packaged snacks are often not as nutritionally sound as foods that take some time to get from fridge to table.

And more often than not, my good intentions go awry when one (or two, or three) week(s) later, I pull out some unrecognizable fruit or vegetable out of my produce drawer.

So now I am on a mission to provide healthy snacks for kids and reduce food spoilage as well. I have come up with a simple one, two method that does take time, but not as much as my original ambitions.

The first step is to set my sights low. No more grand plans of spinach souffle’s and the like. When I hit the produce department at the grocery store I buy fruits and vegetables that require minimal preparation. I shop when I know that I will have an hour or so at home afterwards available to “process” my groceries.

When I get home, I wash and cut and peel the produce I just bought. Carrot and celery sticks go into one container, washed grapes in another, strawberries that have been cleaned and hulled in another. And a bowl of apples, oranges, and bananas on the counter. If I buy a brick of cheese, I slice the whole thing and wrap it up. You get the idea.

One important rule on this road to healthy snacks. Never wash just one. If I buy a bag of apples, I wash all of them. A box of strawberries - the whole package gets prep-ed. This way something healthy is always at the ready when someone’s tummy gets rumbly.

Now I know, sometimes (once in a blue moon) I just might fall a smidgen behind and not have something prepared at that critical moment when my child is “dying” of hunger. In that case I try choose pre-packaged healthy snacks for kids like Cheerios Snack Mix or Fizzix Yogurt - just on those rare occasions mind you.

We’ve all heard the warnings: sugar is bad for kids, limit the sweets, buy healthy snacks……

But let’s face it - kids love sweets.

And although I generally buy healthy snacks, I also tend to indulge their sweet tooth from time to time.

So now I ask - are all sweets created equal? The answer is NO.

Gummy Candies vs Ice Cream
Given a choice between gummy candies (or fruit snacks) and ice cream -the ice cream is the clear winner. Granted, it has bad stuff like fat and sugar but it also has protein from milk and possibly nuts.

The gummy candy usually translates to all sugar and sticks to teeth (read: empty calories and cavities).

Cakes, Cookies, and Donuts
Cakes, cookies, and donuts vary depending on the recipe. These can contain trans fats and tons of calories. But certain brands are fine - you just need to read the ingredient label or make them yourself. You know, in your spare time. Sometimes, you can even sneak some oatmeal or bran into the recipe.

The bottom line: once you decide to offer up a sweet treat, choose the lesser evil (the more nutritious option).

Why not just let them enjoy, without worrying about nutrition?
Sometimes I do that, but usually if they are having a treat after a meal. This way, they have some good food in their bellies already.

If they come home from school starving, and in a moment of weakness, I give in to their pleas - then I prefer that they eat something with a little nutritional value like ice cream, or a (previously approved by me) muffin or cookie.

I know all of you healthy moms out there are screaming right now but my kids are very persistent. I find that this middle of the road approach works for me so I wanted to share it with you. Write me a comment and divulge some of your nutrition secrets.

For some middle of the road snacking alternatives read Cheerios Snack Mix and Fizzix Fizzy Yogurt.