After a long, active day at school, it’s no surprise that your little one comes home looking for a snack. When you’ve worked all day yourself, finding the time to prepare something delicious and nutritious can seem impossible. Never fear — there’s a world of options out there that are miles ahead of packaged cheesy crisps or preservative-laden cookies. Check out a few of these quick, easy ways to put a healthier spin on snacktime:
– Homemade popsicles: A chilly way to beat the heat during the summer months, homemade popsicles are a hit with kids of all ages. You can avoid the sugar of prepackaged popsicles by pouring 100% organic juice into fun molds and freezing until solid. Get a little fancier by blending juices together, or pureeing fresh fruit to give the final product more body and fiber. Some great combinations are peach-cherry, cranberry-apple, or even mashed banana mixed with peanut butter.
– Banana-oatmeal cookies: Who doesn’t love a warm cookie fresh from the oven? These vegan two-ingredient treats are an sweetly all-natural lifesaver after dinner, before soccer practice, or even for a weekend breakfast. Simply mix one large ripe banana with thoroughly with one cup of quick-cooking oatmeal (mixture will have some lumps), then add any additional flavorings your family enjoys. Crushed nuts such as pecans or pistachios are excellent, as well as ginger, cinnamon, or a drizzle of maple syrup. Spoon onto a pan and bake at 350 F for 15 – 20 minutes, then allow to cool until firm.
– Toasted nuts: Nuts of all kinds have a bevy of health benefits, from high levels of protein and vitamin E to healthy fats that provide energy for kids to play hard. Toasted nuts also keep well in an airtight container, so making a large batch of them pays off in handy snacks for several days. Toss two cups of shelled nuts in a quarter-cup of olive oil, then season with salt and toast in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet, stirring often. The end result should be golden-brown and crispy.
– Date bars: Avoid the expense of Lara Bars with these vegan, gluten-free energy bombs. Blend a cup of soft pitted dates with a cup of nuts (cashews, almonds, sunflower seeds, or pecans work particularly well), a quarter-cup of peanut butter, and a pinch of salt. Like the toasted nuts, these sweet, sticky keep well — make a double batch your next Sunday afternoon project. Click here for a cherry pie version!
The rule of thumb for quick and easy snacks is prepare, prepare, prepare. Peel and cut fruits and veggies ahead of time to make reaching for the carrots instead of the potato chips the easy choice. It’s important to teach your kids healthy eating habits early in order to keep their bodies and their minds, growing up healthy and strong. As they get older, you can even enlist their help in some of the safer kitchen tasks, making snacktime into quality time too.