![]() ![]() What constitutes a healthy and nutritious snack for a child? Here’s what I look for: A treat has more sugar, salt and fat than a snack, and is typically made from ultra-processed ingredients. The truth is that many packaged items are treats, not snacks. That’s a big chunk of the food that they eat each day! So, it makes sense to get some protein, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in at snack time. More than a third of a child’s daily calories come from foods they eat between meals. With smaller tummies than adults, children get hungry between meals. The good news? Healthy whole foods can be just as convenient for school snacking. ![]() And why wouldn’t they? Snack foods are widely promoted on TV and online ads directed at children.īut cookies, pretzels and gummy bears miss out on the nutrients children need to fuel their busy school day. It’s convenient to toss a few single-serve packaged options into your kids’ school bag, especially if that’s what they ask for. If your child sees you enjoying an apple as a snack, they will be encouraged to try one too.Packing school snacks every morning can be hard work. If you have more time on a weekday, these delicious hot snacks are quick to prepare if you have the ingredients ready to go:Ĭhildren will do as you do, not as you say. If you have time at the weekend, make some healthy homemade snacks to use during the week. A small bag of popcorn for older children.Fruit - most shops will have bananas and apples somewhere in the shop.Here are some ideas for healthier snacks you’ll find in most shops. It’s when we are on the go and we haven't planned for the unexpected that we might reach for the unhealthier snacks, like a bag of crisps or a bar of chocolate. A savoury one might be cheese on wholemeal toast.A sweet snack could be plain yoghurt with chopped or stewed fruit.Kids enjoy many savoury options, such as two or three crackers with small slices of cheese, toast with peanut butter, or vegetable sticks with hummus.For a mid-morning snack, try a fruity yogurt or mashed banana on toast.Keep snacks fun by varying between savoury and sweet options Sliced apple with a small pot of plain yoghurt for dippingĤ.Grapes and cheese, grapes cut into quarters for younger children.Sliced hard-boiled egg with a slice of toast.Sliced banana and peanut butter, 1 teaspoon of peanut butter for smaller children, and 1-2 teaspoons for children under 12.1-2 crackers topped with a teaspoon of peanut butter for children up to 4, or 2-4 crackers with 1-2 teaspoons for children under 12.One rice cake topped with cream cheese and a sliced tomato.2 or 3 breadsticks with cream cheese for dipping.Small wholemeal scone and low-fat spread.Sliced apple with a teaspoon of peanut butter for smaller children, and 1-2 teaspoons for children under 12.Small bowl of breakfast cereal and milk.Cheese with 2 or 3 crackers or breadsticks.You could add some sliced tomato and make a toasty sandwich A cheese, meat or fish sandwich using one slice of bread.One slice of wholemeal toast with some mashed / chopped banana.2-3 crackers / 1-2 oatcakes / 2 rice cakes /1-2 breadsticks.It’s a good idea to add some regulars to your shopping list so you always have a healthy option in the house. If they eat that and they’re still hungry, and dinner is a few hours away, they probably need a more filling snack.If they still say they’re hungry, try something healthy like a piece of fruit.If it’s nearly dinner time, offer a drink of milk instead.How long has it been since the last meal? When is the next meal?.Here’s how to decide whether to give them a snack. Decide whether your child really does need a snackĬhildren need time to build up an appetite for their next meal, but on the other hand if they’re getting tired and cranky, a well-timed healthy snack can work wonders. Healthy snacks are a very important part of our children's diet, and may be offered 2 to 3 times a day. You can help them grow into healthy adults by making sure they are snacking on food that is good for them. Healthy snacks can help keep up children’s energy levels between meals, and are a great opportunity to give their diet a nutrition boost. Keep their hunger at bay with these healthy snack ideas ![]()
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