A lot of snacks marketed toward kids like those goldfish-shaped cheese crackers are highly processed, loaded with things like sodium and sugar, unhealthy fats, artificial flavors and colors, and other potentially harmful compounds. They aren’t exactly what you’d call healthy but getting kids to like nutritious snacks, such as carrot and celery sticks, can be a challenging thing to do.
Are there any healthy snacks that kids tend to like?
Easy Homemade Crackers
If you have the time, it’s simple to put together these tasty, homemade crackers. All you need are the following ingredients:
- 2 cups whole organic almonds
- 1 tsp. sea salt
- ¼ cup unflavored whey protein
- 2 large organic, free-range eggs
- 3 tbsp organic extra-virgin olive oil
Here’s how to whip them up in no time:
Preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a food processor to process the almonds and sea salt until the mixture reaches a coarse texture, and then add in the whey protein. Mix well until it becomes smooth. Add the eggs and oil and blend again, until smooth. Take the dough that results and place it onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Place another sheet of the paper on top of the dough and then roll out the dough with a rolling pin as thin as possible. Remove the top layer of the parchment paper and then cut the thinned dough into squares using a knife or a pizza cutter. Bake in the oven for about 50 to 60 minutes, remove and cool before breaking along the pre-cut lines.
Air-popped Popcorn
One of the easiest, nutritious snacks to make right at home is air-popped popcorn, and you can get creative by adding all sorts of toppings for flavor. Think grated Parmesan cheese or cinnamon, or even a sprinkle of apple cider vinegar with a bit of sea salt for kids that like the salt and vinegar taste.
Ready-Made Healthy Snacks
Busy families may want to consider healthy snack delivery. It’s a great way to get nutritious, ready-made snacks that the kids are sure to love. From chips and bars to granola, trail mix and everything in between, all items are made with real ingredients, no chemicals or added sugar. The biggest problem may be that they like them a little too much.
Ice Pops
Old-fashioned ice pops are easy and versatile to put together at home. The main ingredients are Greek yogurt and orange juice for a delicious taste and a big dose of both vitamin C and calcium.
To make them, you’ll need six 4-ounce pop molds and the following ingredients:
- 4 cups pulp-free orange juice
- ¼ cup raw honey
- 1 cup plain Greek-style yogurt
- 2 tsp orange zest
- 1 ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
Simmer the orange juice and raw honey in a saucepan, occasionally whisking the ingredients together over medium-high high. Cook until the mixture is reduced to about 2 cups, about 25-30 minutes. Cool completely and then add it along with the yogurt, orange zest, and vanilla to a blender. Puree until smooth and then pour it into your pop molds. Freeze overnight.