Healthy Snack Recipes for Kids

Healthy Snack Recipes for Kids of All Ages

You can hope that your children will snack on broccoli spears and apple slices and not be swayed by sugary snacks, but that's probably not realistic. There is a way to make healthy eating fun and enjoyable, as well as nutritious and wholesome. With a little creativity, you can whip up some snacks your kids will enjoy and might even prefer over the stuff that is not as nutritious. Older children can use the following recipes to make their own snacks. Just be sure to have the needed ingredients available. Younger children may need you to help them in the kitchen.

Recipe for Dips with Veggies

Here are two recipes you can make to get your children to see that vegetables and fruit can be fun to eat.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of cottage cheese
• 3 tablespoons of ranch dressing
• 1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt

Instructions

1. Spoon the cottage cheese into a bowl and add the dressing. Mix well.
2. Refrigerate for at least an hour.
3. Cut up carrots, celery, and cucumber in small sizes. Place on a platter.
4. Dip the vegetables into the dip.

Ingredients for Dip with Fruit

• 1 cup low-fat yogurt, any flavor

Instructions

1. Mix the yogurt well, especially if there is fruit inside.
2. Cut up your child's favorite fruit and place on a platter. Use toothpicks to put two or three pieces of fruit together. For more variety, and to boost calcium, add a cube of cheddar cheese between the pieces of fruit on the toothpick.

Alternative Dip Recipe

• 1 cup of low-fat sour cream
• 2 tablespoons of honey

Instructions

1. Fold the honey into the sour cream.
2. Dip slices of fruit into the mixture.

Trail Mix

In a plastic container mix an equal amount of the following:

• Raisins
• Nuts
• Dried fruit
• Toasted sunflower seeds

This is one of the most-loved healthy snack recipes for kids. For the nuts, you can use whatever your children like the most, or a combination of peanuts, almonds, and cashews. Sometimes candied coated chocolate bits or semisweet chocolate chips are added to give this recipe a sweeter taste.

Smoothies

Smoothies make a great refreshing drink kids can enjoy after school.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of low-fat yogurt, any flavor
• 1 cup of orange juice
• 1/2 cup of chopped fruit (blueberries, bananas, raspberries, or strawberries)

Instructions

1. Place all of the ingredients in a blender and put the lid on top.
2. Blend on low for a minute or until smooth.
3. Serve in a tall glass with a straw.

Tortillas with Cheese

Simplicity is the way to go. What could be easier than tortillas with melted cheese?

Ingredients

• Four large flour tortillas
• 1 cup of shredded cheese (use cheddar, Colby, American, or a mixture of all three)

Instructions

1. Sprinkle cheese evenly over tortilla.
2. Put in microwave and let melt for 1 minute.
3. Place another tortilla on top and microwave for 20 seconds.
4. Cut in wedges like a pie and serve.
5. Chopped tomatoes or onions can also be added to the cheese.

Other Ideas

• Popcorn with light butter
• Apples with peanut butter - Cut out the core and fill that space with peanut butter.
• Baked bananas
• Frozen yogurt - Freeze regular yogurt in their containers and enjoy them like you would a Popsicle. Peel off the lids and eat the frozen yogurt with a spoon. This is a great treat on a hot summer day.

Suggestions

If you find that your children are going for the more caloric snacks, you may want to stop buying them. If kids are hungry and wanting to snack, they will have to eat what is in the house. Have less caloric snacks available and encourage them to try them. They may be surprised at how delicious healthy can taste.