Healthy Snacks that Kids Love

Most children cringe when they hear the words, "Eat it. It's good for you." I've got some recipes that will change your children's thoughts of what healthy means.

Trail Mix
Here's what I throw into this hearty trail mix I make for my kids. You'll need a gallon-sized storage bag for this. Freezer bags work best because they hold heavier ingredients.

1.1 large bag of Pecans
2. 1 small bag of peanuts (Add more if peanuts are favored in your house. We prefer other nuts more.)
3. 1 medium bag of cashews
4. one-half bag of pretzels
5. one-half bag of dried cranberries
6. one bag of sunflower nuts (without the shells)
7. one bag of pumpkin nuts/seeds (without the shells)
8. one bag of spicy sesame sticks
9. one half bag of carob chips (like chocolate chips, but way less sugar)
10. one half bag of butterscotch carob chips
11. one half bag of yogurt covered raisins
12. one small bag dried banana chips

You can also add any dried fruit or nut that your kids like to personalize it.

Just throw all the ingredients into the storage bag and shake.

This makes for an easy and healthy snack to send to school with your child for snack time, works as an after school snack, and is also great for nature walks and camping. This is a versatile snack that is packed with protein, carbs, and fruits for superb energy and also for making sure your child gets those fruits in. Be careful. This can be an addicting snack. Once you make it, they'll ask for it again and again.

Self-Serve Tray
This is something that should be kept around every day.

For this one, you should purchase a chips and salsa tray that has two salsa compartments, although we won't use it for chips and salsa. It works well for this snack.

Here's what you need:

1. raw celery
2. raw carrots
3. grapes
4. cheddar and/or mozzarella cheese brick
5. plain yogurt
6. fat free ranch dressing
7. raw broccoli florets
8. raw cauliflower florets
9. raw sugar snap peas or snow peas
10. raw string beans
11. smashed or blended strawberries (just a few for flavoring)
12. sliced honeydew melon
13. sliced watermelon
14. sliced apples

Cut up all the vegetables and slice the cheese. Arrange it all around the sides of the tray.

In a separate dish, pour in some yogurt (slightly under enough to fill one of the dipping sections of your tray) and mix in the smashed strawberries. Now pour the mixture into one of the dipping sections of the tray.

Next, pour some fat free ranch into the other dipping section of your tray.

The yogurt mixture is for dipping the fruits. The ranch section is for dipping the vegetables.

When the kids home from school, set out this tray. It's also a good thing to have out during dinner preparation. Many people get hungry while dinner is being made and tend to snack because the aromas of the food make them hungry. At least this way, the snack will be healthy.

For a funny family activity, you could challenge family members to see who is brave enough to dip the veggies in the fruit dip and the fruit into the ranch. This can be hilarious and gets the family interacting with each other.

Easy Smoothies
All you need is a blender, some orange or lime sherbet, and 3 of your child's favorite fruits.

Toss it all into the blender. Blend for about 2 minutes and there you go.

The sherbet provides the thick, frozen consistency needed and the fruit provides the nutrition.

Pita Pocket O' Fun
My kids love this.

You'll need an open pita pocket for each kid.

Just supply an array of fruits and trail mix or an array of vegetables and meat. Let your child select what they want and pack it in. Just remember that when using the meat, the child must have vegetables. They can't choose just meat.

Kids enjoy this one because they get to choose what they want.

Make Up Your Own
Now that you have an idea of the types of snacks kids enjoy, you may be thinking up your own ideas. Go ahead and experiment. Kids love variety, so it's important to try new things often. If you don't give your kids new and different options often enough, they will become picky eaters. Now, put all those creative ideas to use and start snacking. Your kids are sure to be hungry after school, so that's the best time to try new ideas. If you come up with a really good one, be sure to write your own article and share the link in the comments section.