Getting kids to eat healthy can be difficult sometimes. They are surrounded by ads and commercials for junk food and every fast food imaginable. Also, it’s hard to monitor everything they put in their mouths when they are at friends’ houses or out with well-meaning family members who may not share your feelings about eating healthy. Maybe this is a new lifestyle for your family, and getting them on the healthy bandwagon is proving somewhat difficult. Luckily, eating healthy doesn’t mean kale chips and raw veggies during snack time. There are several ways to make their favorite foods healthier, and they won’t even know it’s good for them.
Snack Mixes
When shopping for your family’s weekly groceries, you have probably encountered the copious amounts of pre-packaged snack mixes. These snack mixes are usually loaded with sugar, sodium, and preservatives.
If you make your own, you can choose healthy nuts, like raw almonds, cashews, or pistachios. Avoid nuts that have been roasted in oil to avoid hydrogenated fats. When looking for add-ins, you don’t have to get rid of all the fun stuff. You can still put chocolate in your mix, but go for dark chocolate, like dark chocolate M&Ms, if your child will eat it. Other options include whole wheat pretzels or crackers, raisins, whole grain cereals, or air-popped popcorn. Here are several snack mix ideas to keep things fresh and fun.
Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
If you are like most people, you probably have a deep devotion to Nutella. If you aren’t familiar with this delicious chocolate hazelnut spread, it was created in Italy during World War II and was imported into America in 1983.
In recent years, it has taken the culinary world by storm, with entire cookbooks devoted to incorporating Nutella into everything edible. Sadly, it is not very healthy because the first ingredient is sugar and the second ingredient is modified vegetable oils, which is code for highly processed. Good news! You can make a healthier version by using whole food ingredients. This recipe cuts back on the sugar content by using bittersweet chocolate and honey, and light coconut milk takes the place of regular milk, cutting back on the fat. Your kids can dip fruit in it or put it on celery; they can also spread it on whole wheat crackers or toast.
Peanut Butter and Honey Oat Bars
Granola bars are the go-to snack for many families on the go. They’re so easy to throw in a lunchbox or backpack. Unfortunately, many pre-packaged granola bars are just glorified candy bars. Most have a very high sugar content in the form of high fructose corn syrup and are lacking in protein and important nutrients.
There are decent store-bought granola bars out there, but it’s so easy to make your own, and you can even let your kids help. This recipe uses ingredients like honey, coconut oil, and oats to create a healthy, delicious, and filling granola bar.
These healthy snack ideas will win over even the pickiest eater, and you don’t even have to tell your kids that they’re healthy. Happy snacking!
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