Summer Snacks

School is out and your kids are at home asking you for snacks. Children get hungry between meals. Snacks are mini meals that should be provided if there is a long stretch of time between meals (about five hours). Snacks are a perfect opportunity for your child to take in the nutrients they need to help them grow and develop, including iron, protein, calcium, and vitamin D. Treats, on the other hand, are non-nutritious foods — such as cookies and chips — that do not provide nutrients and should be consumed only occasionally. Offer your kids healthy snacks. Unprocessed foods at snack time instead of prepackaged snack foods. Here is a list of healthy snack ideas:

Sliced pears with ricotta cheese

Oatmeal with sliced apples

String Cheese

Veggie Pita Pocket – sliced vegetables: carrots cucumbers, and bell peppers inside a pita

Fruit Smoothie

Hard Boiled Eggs

Frozen fruit popsicles

Organic fruit roll-ups

Hummus and pita chips

Peanut Butter

Organic Peanut butter and graham crackers

Organic Peanut butter and apples

Organic Peanut butter and celery

Vegetables

Organic Baby Carrots

Small tomatoes, carrot slices, cucumbers in a cup with ranch dip

Baby yellow, green, and red sweet bell peppers

Popcorn

Organic Popcorn

White Cheddar Popcorn

Plain or flavored yogurt with Granola

Raisins

Trail Mix

Nuts

Banana oat cookies

Ingredients:

• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/3 cup (80 ml) of coconut oil
• 2 cups (160 grams) of rolled oats
• 1/2 cup (80–90 grams) of mini chocolate chips or dried fruit
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of vanilla

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Place spoonful of the cookie mixture onto a greased cookie sheet and bake for 15–20 minutes at 350°F (175°C).

With these great snacks your kids will be happy and healthy.