Fruit
It is pretty rare to meet a child that does not love fruit.
Whether you opt to serve one fruit or make a little fruit mix, your child is bound to be thrilled with some of nature’s candy.
Some fruit favorites include:
- Clementines
- Peaches
- Bananas
- Apples
- Pears
- Sliced Grapes
- Dried mango
- Dates
- Raisins
- Berries - all kinds, all the time
- Pineapple
If you are opting for dried or canned fruit, make sure you read the nutrition label to see how much added sugar is included in each serving. Also, check the ingredients label to see what number ingredient any type of sugar is listed. The closer to the beginning of the list, the more abundant that ingredient is.
Frozen Fruit
Yes, fruit is always a win, but there is something about frozen fruit that makes kids even more excited. Buy the fruit fresh and freeze it yourself, or simply opt for a few bags of frozen tastiness to have on hand.
Fruits that freeze well:
- Grapes - half or whole
- Cherries - pit and slice them first
- Peaches
- Blueberries
- Bananas
A word of caution here: If you have a younger child and choking is a concern, make sure you watch her very carefully when she is eating frozen fruit. They can be easy to choke on. Alternatively, you could heat them for a few seconds and while the fruit will still be cold, it will not be as hard.
Healthier Muffins
Muffins are super easy to pack with you on the go, or to make a double batch of and store in the freezer.
There are boosted baked good recipes that include ingredients like sweet potatoes, peas, oats, and carrots to give your muffins an extra nutritional boost.
You can also use different types of sweeteners apart from white sugar. Ingredients like applesauce, dates, and bananas often give enough natural sugar to a muffin and still keep your child happily chewing.
Jerky
This snack is ideal for those on the go days when you know keeping anything cold may be an issue. Jerky packs a high protein punch for your little ones which means they will be fuller for longer.
Test out a few different types of jerky to see which kind your family enjoys the most. There is a huge variety from beef, pork, turkey, and chicken to choose from.
Vegetable Dippers
Slice up some of your child’s favorite vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes, and serve them with a variety of dippers. Dippers could include foods like guacamole, hummus, black bean dip, or a dressing. Do not be afraid to give your child more than one type of dip. They will simply adore trying them all and making the perfect bite.
Fruit Leather
An easy on the go snack that is shelf-stable makes fruit leather an easy choice. Sure, you could make your own, but they come readily available in stores.
Read the labels for added sugar content and choose one with a lower sugar count and minimal ingredients.
Trail Mix
Combine a few of your child’s favorite dried fruits, nuts, and seeds into a little bag or cup for a protein-packed trail mix he will be thrilled to look through. Some trail mix combination winners include:
- Cashews, raisins, pumpkin seeds
- Almonds, dried mango, sunflower seeds
- Peanuts, Goldfish, Craisins
The varieties are really endless. Enlist your child to help you mix one together.
Fruit & Vegetable Pouches
Done for you, easy to pack on an outing, and loved by almost all children, pouches have a long-lasting shelf life. You could opt for straight fruit pouches, but there are some that include a fruit and a vegetable. Opting for a combo blend will give you peace of mind knowing your child is getting in at least a few vegetables during the day.
Cheese and Crackers
Cheese is pretty much always a win with children, so you cannot go wrong with some good old fashioned cheese and crackers. If you have more than one type of cheese and crackers, make them a little mixed plate. You know your child would have a blast trying the different combinations.
Frozen Yogurt Bites
While your child may be completely content eating yogurt as is for a snack, why not mix it up?
Freeze a spoonful of yogurt on a parchment paper covered cookie sheet. Once it is done, pop it off the paper and serve. These little frozen yogurt bites do tend to melt quickly, so try to only give him one or two at a time while the rest wait in the freezer until he asks for more.
Energy Bites
Mixing together some almonds, honey, chia seeds, dates, coconut flakes, and almond extract give you a seriously delicious and satisfying energy bite that tastes like an Almond Joy. You can opt to put in some chocolate chips for an added treat.
If those specific ingredients do not work for your dietary needs, you can find a whole slew of kid-friendly energy bites in a quick Pinterest search. They are also really easy for your child to help make! He will love to get his hands messy in the mixture while trying to roll it into balls.
Nice Cream
Instead of making yet another banana bread recipe with those overripe bananas sitting on the counter, peel them, slice them, and stick them in the freezer.
After a few hours of freezing, you can throw them in a high powered blender with a bit of milk to get everything moving. In a few seconds, you will have banana ice cream or "nice cream".
Top their little bowls of "nice cream" with a few chocolate chips or a dash of sprinkles for some added snack time fun.
Fun Ways To Eat A Snack
There is something super appealing and exciting to kids when a same-old snack is dressed up in a new way. These simple tips can make those tried and true foods feel brand new. Test one out at the next snack break and you are sure to be amazed at how quickly your child gobbles up their food.
Put it on a stick
Seriously, kids love anything on a stick. It could be something as simple as blueberries that you eat just about every day. On a stick, those berries are gone in a flash.
Serve it in a cup
Skip the usual plate and serve a snack in a cup. It could be a paper cup, a coffee cup, or a to-go cup. This change in the usual serving method can pique a child’s interest and make an old stand by foods seem new and exciting.
Eat outside
Take a break from the usual kitchen table and sit on the front step or lay out a blanket on the lawn. This could feel really exotic to your little one.
Let your child make it herself
Allowing your child to help you make the snack will start taking some of the burdens off of you while giving your child a vested interest in getting food on plates. Even if it is a super simple way to help like mixing, pouring, or just transferring chopped pineapple from the cutting board to a plate, your child will be thrilled.
Put it on a spoon
Yogurt spoons, peanut butter spoons, hummus spoons are all winners for a little kid. Not only will your child eat the snack on a spoon, but it is likely to give you a few minutes peace and quiet (minus the sound of licking).
Use individual packs
Anything that comes in an individual pack and is not just put on a plate from a bulk container is going to give your child a new interest in getting to that food. Think raisin boxes, snack cups, and separate little baggies to make this happen easily.
Cut it into shapes
There is no shame in going a little Pinterest-mom and cutting cheese slices into cookie cutter shapes. The same goes for bread and tortillas. You can even earn bonus points if you let your child pick the shape they want.
As long as you are giving your child real, whole foods to try, you can pretty much not go wrong at snack time. Include your child in the planning, making, and taste testing of snacks to give her a little more autonomy in the process. Happy snacking.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.
