Kid Snack Ideas for Low Income Families

Children need to snack in between meals to keep their energy levels up. They tend to have higher metabolism and so require many more calories to stay energized. Snacks for children sold in supermarkets can become pricey if buying in frequent and large quantities. If you are on a budget and are having a difficult time finding affordable snacks for your children you should take a look below at some of the affordable snack ideas for kids.

Crackers, peanut butter and raisins. Saltines are a good choice for crackers and do not cost that much. Melba snacks, Triscuits, and wheat thins are also great cracker alternatives but may not taste that well with peanut butter. Saltines topped with peanut butter and eaten with raisins on the side make a decent and affordable snack. Raisins can be purchased in a large sized container and eaten occasionally to make them last. You can also place mixed nuts, dry cereal (cheerios or Wheaties Fuel) and dried fruits in with the raisins to make a homemade trail mix.

Crackers and cubed cheese or cheese sticks (string cheese) make for a light snack. Serve crackers and cheese with a small cup of juice, apple sauce, or a piece of wheat bread or half of bagel.

Bananas, plain yogurt and graham crackers will make a great affordable snack. Bananas are one of the most inexpensive fruits to purchase and they are chalk full of potassium. You can purchase a large container of plain yogurt and sweeten with a dab of sugar or with mixed fruit and granola. Graham crackers taste great and are inexpensive and they come in; honey, cinnamon and even chocolate.

Turkey meat, cheese, and crackers make for a light but filling snack. You can purchase the turkey meat from the deli or purchase the pre-packaged turkey. The pre-packaged turkey would probably cost less than the deli turkey but whichever you choose to purchase the taste should be fair. Children can make little sandwiches on the crackers using the turkey slices and cheese slices. This will make a good treat for hungry children.

Fruit salad, microwave popcorn, and cheese is a wholesome snack to serve. Fruit salad can be easily and inexpensively prepared. Gather up a few of your child's favorite fruits, chop them up and place them in a bowl. Apples, peaches, and grapes are great fruits to use for fruit salad. Pop some popcorn and give the child a cup full. Cut up some block cheese or give the child a cheese slice.

Low fat ranch dressing, raw veggies, and cubed cheese is another great snack for children. You can purchase baby carrots, baby tomatoes, as well as broccoli florets and celery. Place the vegetables on a plate and pour some Ranch dressing in the middle or inside of a cup so that children can dip their vegetables into and enjoy. If you are feeding smaller children you should be careful to cut up the grapes and tomatoes as they can easily become lodged inside a small child's throat that does not know how to chew well. You should also be aware that celery is pretty stringy and can easily cause a child to choke.