When my kids were younger, the only meal I really stressed about was a healthy dinner. Now that they are a bit older, dinner isn’t the only thing I’ve got on my mind. I know that when that school bell rings, I’m going to have a couple ravenous, bottomless pits pounding down the door expecting me to have snacks on hand.
Since it’s important to me to have snacks that are good for them, I love that PBS KIDS and Whole Foods Markets have teamed up to launch the “Fantastic Organic” campaign. Their goal is to provide educational tools and resources so families can learn to cook, shop, and explore healthy foods.
I find that allowing my kids to pick out fruits and vegetables at the store makes them more likely to try them. That’s not to say I take them all with me every time I go shopping, but all it takes is a couple times until a few good choices become habit.
The folks at PBS Kids also realize that with the new school year comes hectic schedules, which is why I love these healthy eating tips from PBS Kids.
Choosing and Buying Healthy Snacks
- Take snacks with you when you go to appointments or run errands.
- Provide snacks that are easy to eat.
- Use snacks to provide the food groups your children are missing during meals.
- Make snacks small then give seconds if the child asks for more.
They also have a wonderful index of recipes at Fantastic Organic and PBS Kitchen Explorers along with these fabulous ideas below. I know a few I’ll be adding to my arsenal for snack time, for sure.
Healthy Snack Ideas:
- Nearly frozen applesauce
- Ants on a Log: Peanut butter on celery with raisins
- Mud & Dirt: Low-fat pudding with crushed graham crackers mixed in
- Peanut butter on half of a whole-wheat bagel
- Whole-wheat crackers or whole-wheat tortilla with salsa
- “Light” microwave popcorn with grated parmesan cheese (for children three years and older)
- Mini-pizzas: Half an English muffin covered with a tablespoon of tomato sauce, then topped with part-skim mozzarella cheese
Cocoa Almond Butter Grahamwiches
I usually make two sandwiches per kid. You'll need:
Ingredients:
- 2 graham crackers
- 6 thin slices of apple
- 2 tablespoons cocoa almond butter
Directions:
Break each graham cracker in half to create 4 squares. Spread 1 tablespoon of almond butter on two of the squares. Top each one with three slices of apple. Top with the remaining squares so you end up with 2 grahamwiches. Enjoy! Serves 1
With all of these fabulous ideas, failure is not an option. Keeping the pantry fully stocked with four boys in the house is quite another story!
What are some of your favorite after school snacks for the kids?
Born and raised in Southern California, Krista Dearden started blogging in 2009 to stay in touch with her family. Shortly after giving birth to her fourth son, she created her blog, Budget Gourmet Mom. In it she shares stories of motherhood, budget friendly recipes, and the occasional tip. Earlier this year, she joined the team at The Hive which is a community for local Utah Food Bloggers. She currently resides in Spanish Fork, Utah with her husband and four boys. Connect with Krista on Facebook and on Twitter.
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