Healthy Snacks and Recipes from the KidsFit program
Snacks are an important part of your child’s diet throughout the day, but we can sometimes forget that they are a great opportunity to offer healthy foods. Instead we defer to our kid’s favorite foods, things that are crunchy, salty, sweet and often pre-packaged because they are easy and quick to grab. Use snacks as an opportunity to pair your child’s favorite flavors and textures with foods packed with healthy nutrients like fiber, vitamins and minerals. Fiber which is found mostly in fruits, vegetables and whole grains will help keep your kids feeling full and satisfied until meal time. When planning snacks, be sure to include more than one food group to achieve a more nutritious and balanced bite. Here are some quick snack ideas that we love:
- Blueberry Breakfast Bake
- Blue & Green Breakfast Smoothie
- Tropical Trail Mix – a KidsFit favorite!
- Snack Kebabs: Place low-fat cheese cubes and grapes on pretzel sticks
- Apple Slices: Serve sliced apples with peanut butter or sunflower butter for dipping
- Toasted Waffle: Toast a whole grain waffle and top with low-fat yogurt and berries
- Quick Smoothie: Add low-fat milk, frozen strawberries or blueberries, and half a banana to a blender and blend until smooth
- English Muffin Pizza: Toast a whole grain English muffin and top with tomato sauce, low-fat mozzarella cheese and chopped veggies like broccoli, spinach or peppers
- Tortilla Roll-Ups: Spread hummus on a whole wheat tortilla and add sliced turkey and lettuce or spinach. Roll up, slice and serve.
- Celery Sticks: Spread peanut butter or sunflower butter on celery sticks and top with raisins
KidsFit recipe development is graciously funded by the Hannah Peretsman Breene Foundation. These hands-on recipes are designed to help children engage in the kitchen, expose them to new and nutritious foods, learn kitchen safety techniques and more. We hope your students and families enjoy these tasty recipes as much as we do!