Healthy After School Snacks for Kids

 

When kids get home from school everyday, the first things they ask you for are snacks. While their first choice is anything from candy to potato chips to ice cream, we know as parents that these aren’t the healthiest choices for them. Of course we want them to have whatever they want, but their health comes first. Since their bodies are still growing and changing, this is an essential time to fuel them with foods that are high in antioxidants, nutrients, and are overall healthy. Our children’s health and nutrition intake is the most important thing.

Homemade Chips

Children can still enjoy the crunchy goodness of chips in all different flavors. Kale, sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, and even bananas are all good alternatives to the overly greasy and overly salted options. Cut them, sprinkle a small amount of sea salt over them, bake, and enjoy! Your kids won’t even realize they’re eating vegetables.

Ants on a Log

This is a classic treat that never gets old. Take a stalk of celery and cut it to about the size of your finger. Fill the inside with peanut butter and place raisins on the peanut butter to make it look like ants walking on a log. You can even use different kinds of spreads and switch out the raisins for other ingredients to represent the ants. Not only is it a delicious snack, but kids love the creativity behind it.

Homemade Fruit Leather

Ditch the factory made fruit leathers and make your own. The only two ingredients needed are stone fruit and water. From there, you boil water, blend them, and bake. It’s that simple. This healthy and delicious option might even become your favorite snack, too. 

Smoothies

Even though the kids are back in school, that doesn’t mean the summer heat has gone anywhere. Mix together kid-friendly fruits, such as strawberries, mangoes, peaches, bananas, and any other of their favorites to create a delicious, thirst-quenching smoothie to cool off with at the end of their day.

Chocolate Dipped Fruit

For those kids who crave something sweet at the end of the day, cut up some of their favorite fruits and dip them in chocolate. Freeze them throughout the day and have them ready to eat when they come home. Easy, delicious, and pretty to look at, your kids can enjoy their chocolate frozen fruits as a snack or a yummy dessert come the end of dinner. 

There are endless possibilities when it comes to making healthier options for your kids to enjoy, but the main point is to avoid store-bought food with high sugar, fat, sodium, and cholesterol content. Cooking for and with your kids creates a longer lasting bond, and while you’re making something they will love, the two of you are creating memories to last a lifetime.

Enjoy these healthy recipes, and remember that family is the most important aspect of the 100 Year Lifestyle.

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