Wholesome Snack Suggestions for Children

For any mom focusing on her own dietary goals, a common challenge arises that I, as a weight loss advisor, often see. The struggle typically peaks when children burst through the door after school or during the preparation of their school lunches.

This isn’t shocking at all. Children gravitate towards the store-bought snacks, which parents appreciate for their convenience and ease of preparation — simply toss them into a lunchbox or leave them out for easy access. These temptations include small packets of chips, deliciously bite-sized crackers, and sugary sodas. They’re a quick solution, but they pose a considerable challenge to any mom’s diet plan. These snacks are usually loaded with fats, sugars, and calories, and it’s frighteningly easy to consume an extra 500 calories, potentially derailing your diet efforts.

To help keep your dietary plan on track while still providing for your kids, here are 20 snack ideas that are lighter on calories — perfect if mom needs to indulge a bit too.

1. Dice half a canned pear in its own juice and mix into 200ml of low-calorie gelatin. Distribute into individual plastic cups with lids for easy access.
2. Serve crunchy vegetable sticks with a choice of dips like ranch, peanut, sweet chili, or tomato sauce.
3. Stuff 6-8 cm long celery sticks with cottage cheese and sprinkle with raisins or chopped nuts.
4. Create a snack mix of low-fat cheese cubes, nuts, and dried fruits, wrapped in cling film or placed in a snack bag.
5. Wrap thin strips of carrot and celery along with grated cheese in a slice of deli meat, securing with a toothpick.
6. Segment oranges, freeze them on a tray, and store in bags as a natural frozen snack.
7. Prepare extra meatballs while making meatloaf, adding a pineapple chunk with a toothpick, and include tomato dip if liked.
8. Bake mini crustless quiches in a muffin tray for a nutritious snack option.
9. Combine slices of various fruits like strawberries, bananas, and kiwi, and freeze in small containers with a splash of apple juice.
10. Spread rice cakes with mashed avocado and banana with a dash of cinnamon, or try avocado with tomato slices and sprouts.
11. Offer chopped hard-boiled eggs with low-fat mayo and seasoning on a crispbread.
12. Roll a mix of cheese, celery, and carrot in a lettuce leaf, wrap in foil to keep fresh.
13. Pack a small tub of yogurt.
14. Pair Baby Bell Cheese with a low-fat cracker.
15. Stuff dates with low-fat cream cheese for a creamy treat.
16. Make quick sausage rolls using good quality sausage and filo pastry, bake until golden.
17. Alternatively, wrap chicken breast strips in filo, serve with a dip of your choice.
18. For a warm snack, top a round of pita bread with tomato paste, veggies, and low-fat cheese, then grill.
19. Create fruit kebabs with seasonal produce.
20. Combine a tin of sandwich tuna, crispbread, and a sachet of mayo for an interactive, fresh school snack.

By opting for these fresher alternatives over pre-packaged snacks, you not only boost your children’s health but also support your own wellness journey.