By Karen Shadrach
Kids love snacks. With planning, you can quickly create a snack for the grandkids that’s both fun and nutritious.
Think of healthful snacks as high-energy fuel. Kids are continuously learning and growing, and seem to have an endless supply of energy, so so the quality of food is important.
Snacks make up an important part of kids’ diets; think of them as a way to boost their intake of vitamins, minerals and nutrients, rather than simply a treat.
Younger children need to eat three meals and at least two snacks a day. Older kids need to eat three meals and at least one snack a day. Snacks make up approximately 28% of the total daily energy intake of a child and each snack session contributes 12% of total daily energy intake, according to nutritionists and studies from the National Institutes of Health.
Mindful Munching
The key is to offer a variety of flavors, tastes and textures — including fruits and vegetables — at snack times. This will increase a child’s familiarity with different foods and encourage healthy eating habits. Energy needs are even higher for children who are active or play sports. Feeding the appetite of your grandchildren can sometimes be challenging. Some days it seems they are constantly searching the cupboard for snacks to fill them up.
Our grandchildren are screaming for a snack as soon as they come off the school bus. This is an ideal snack time because it’s far enough away from dinner. Most children need to pack not only their lunches, but also a snack or two these days for school or daycare. Finding or having ingredients to build a silly snack will bring a smile to their faces at snack time.
To create a great snack, provide options, and then let them make their own. Here are a few to try:
Funny Face English Muffins
Spread a muffin half (or rice cake) with Nutella or peanut/almond butter. Provide raisins, blueberries, pieces of fruit or vegetables, nuts and seeds, small marshmallows and cereals, such as Cheerios. Whipped cream can be added as the last ingredient for hair or a smiley mouth. Not as cute, but a really quick snack, is to spread Nutella on a tortilla (large or small), then place a peeled banana on top and roll it up. The boys especially love these for a quick energy snack before a game.
Robots
Begin with a graham cracker for the body of the robot, then add carrot stick arms, celery legs and a face with raisins or berries. We found this snack while reading a Highlights magazine and the kids wanted to make one right away.
Butterfly Crackers
These butterflies are definitely not a boring snack. Blend shredded carrots and cream cheese in a processor. Spread on a cracker. Place a celery stick (small piece) on top of the cracker and fill the center with nut butter. Place 2 mini pretzels on either side and add 2 raisins for the eyes. These butterflies are a cute and healthy snack.
Silly Apple Bites
Quarter a green apple and cut a wedge out of the center. Fill with nut butter and place seeds on top for the teeth. We used sunflower or pumpkin seeds. Add a strawberry slice for the tongue. Place 1 or 2 google eye candies on the top or, if no candies, you can use raisins. This is a snack with an attitude.
Enjoy making and eating these and other snacks with your grandchildren. They will love looking forward to and sharing a special treat with you after school, or when they come to visit.
