Snacks are an important time for small bodies to refuel during the day. However, snack ideas can become as stale as the Cheerios that have taken up permanent residence under the booster seats in my car. And, not all snacks have the same nutritional value. Most typical American snacks are sodium-laden empty carbohydrates, such as crackers, Goldfish, chips, and pretzels. Use snacks as an opportunity to get in foods that children may balk at during meal time, such as the fruits, vegetables, and proteins. Try out these snack ideas the next time your child goes on a snack attack.
1. Spread peanut butter on apple or banana slices.
2. Microwave a small baked potato. Top with cheddar cheese and salsa.
3. Peel a banana and dip it in yogurt. Roll in crushed cereal and freeze.
4. Dip cucumber slices in hummus.
5. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast on popcorn.
6. Make an inside-out sandwich. Spread mustard on a slice of turkey. Wrap around a sesame breadstick.
7. Make snack kebobs. Put cubes of cheese and grapes on pretzel sticks.
8. Spread celery sticks with peanut butter or cream cheese.
9. Sprinkle grated Monterey Jack cheese over a corn tortilla; fold in half and microwave for twenty seconds. Top with salsa.
10. Smear peanut butter on a graham cracker, add a few pear slices, and top with another graham cracker to make a yummy sandwich.
11. Mix together ready-to-eat cereal, dried fruit and nuts for a homemade trail mix.