Five Snacks that Won't Spoil a Child's Apetite

What snacks can you feed a child between meals that won't spoil their appetite for dinner? What mom has not had a starving child begging for snacks in the late afternoon, and then they eat nothing at the evening meal? It is a challenge to find snack ideas that will satisfy their hunger, but not fill them up too much.

The concern here is to be sure that they are getting the nutritious food they need and not filling up on chips, candy, and other junk that is not always healthy. So, to start with, you want to be sure that their snack foods are good foods that will provide vitamins and nutrients that they need in the event they don't eat their dinner. The smart mom will give them nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables when they are famished and starving so that they will eat them.

Five Nutritious Snacks That Won't Spoil their Appetite!

The first three snacks are foods that they might not ordinarily eat. They are more likely to eat them if offered them when they are in that after school starvation zone! Fruits and vegetables are much less filling than chips, pretzels, popcorn, pizza, cookies, or other foods. You want to make certain that they are getting their needed nutrients, regardless.

1. Apple Slices and Peanut Butter

Slice an apple, leaving peeling on. Have slices attractively arranged around a tablespoon of peanut butter. Don't place too much peanut butter on the plate, but just enough for some protein and a boost of flavor as a dip for the apple slices. If desired, you could sprinkle some cinnamon

2. Sliced Cucumbers and ranch dip are a great snack. Most children will eat them with the peels on, but do whatever your child likes. Again, presentation is important. Fan the cucumbers out on a plate, and place a little bowl of ranch dip in the middle. You can buy ranch dressing in little individual serving cups. Imagine you are working in a restaurant. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper if your child would like that better.

3. Mini carrots and ranch dip. Those bags of little prewashed carrots are a lifesaver. You can be sure that they won't fill up on them because they take a long time to eat. And, if they do fill up on them, there is not much food that is healthier for you than raw carrots! I always rinse off the prewashed ones, too.

The last two snacks are not quite as nutritious, but still healthy. They are light, refreshing, and satisfying, but they are not filling.

4. Jello
You can have jello prepared or purchase the little individual serving cups at the grocery store. The gelatin in Jello has a nutritional value, and it is not filling. This is a great snack.

5. Finally, Popsicles are a wonderful snack. They are especially great in the summer weather. A child is getting some needed fluids, and cooling off, but they are not filling at all. They are also inexpensive. You can get the kind in a plastic sleeve or on a stick.

I hope these snacks are good for your kids when they need a snack that doesn't spoil their appetite.