Kids have growing bodies and minds, so keeping them full with all of the nutrition they need without spending all day in the kitchen prepping veggies or turning to highly processed snacks can be a challenge for any parent. Even common snacking foods that aim to be healthy like applesauce, dried fruit, pretzels, and trail mix are unfortunately often loaded with sugar and lacking in needed nutrients.
With so many easy options when it comes to packaged products at the grocery store, kids these days are almost hardwired to reach for junk when it's snack time, but as a parent, you know that they need more.
Creating a healthy snack for kids doesn’t have to be time consuming for you or boring for them. We’ve come up with a list of six amazing healthy snacks for kids they will love.
Fruit Smoothie
What could be easier than throwing together a bunch of frozen or fresh fruit in a blender? A fruit smoothie is a delicious, nutritious way to give your kiddos a portable but filling snack without a bunch of added sugar. This citrus cold-buster smoothie has the added benefit of including a protein and superfoods powder that offers clean, plant-based nutrition with vitamins and minerals for immune support. Hopefully, that translates to fewer sick days for you and your little ones.
All you’ll need is some Orgain Protein and Superfoods Plant Based Protein Powder - Vanilla, a bit of coconut water, some frozen mango, peeled oranges, a banana, and a handful of ice. Just make sure to adjust the serving size for kids under 13, then blend and serve!
Kids Protein Bar
Granola bars are one of the most popular kids snack options around, but too many snack bars are packed with added sugars and chemicals and lack filling ingredients like whole grains and fiber.
The Orgain Kids O-Bar is instead made from whole grains and contains 40 to 55 percent less sugar than the leading granola bar brands, plus it’s organic, gluten-free, kosher, vegan, and comes in three great flavors.
Between the chocolate chip, peanut butter, and chocolate brownie options, your kids will feel like they’re eating dessert, and you’ll know they’re getting the nutrition they need!
Holiday Spice Protein Pancakes
If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times: a healthy breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Picky eaters might try to steer clear of breakfast or beg for a sugary cereal devoid of nutrition, but kids need protein in the morning for sustained energy, and whole-grain cereal for kids isn't quite flying off the shelves.
Go for holiday spice protein pancakes instead, made from Orgain Organic Plant-Based Protein Pancake and Waffle Mix - Gluten Free, and require just a bit of almond milk and a dash of your favorite holiday spice, as well as either an egg or water. When made without egg, these pancakes offer a delicious gluten-free and vegan breakfast option.
Easy Breakfast Oatmeal Yogurt Parfait
Don’t have the time or energy to make pancakes? This easy breakfast oatmeal yogurt parfait is the perfect solution for a morning or afternoon snack.
Using your favorite greek yogurt (non-dairy options work too), some rolled oats, and Orgain Vanilla Nutrition Shake, you can infuse extra protein into this delicious healthy snack idea by cooking your oatmeal in a nutritious protein shake mixture.
We recommend adding your favorite berries as a yummy topping and an easy way to help your little one get in their daily servings of fruits and vegetables.
Protein Sweet Potato Hummus
If you’re looking for a way to encourage your child to eat some extra vegetables, we have a recommendation: make a dip with this protein sweet potato hummus. There’s something about a dip that just makes eating vegetables a whole lot more fun, and this sweet potato hummus packs a powerful protein punch of 21 grams of clean, plant-based protein.
This healthy food recipe does require a bit of preparation, but you can make extra to keep or freeze for a ready after school snack. Also, while dipping veggies is ideal, whole-grain crackers are an option for picky eaters that need that crispy crunch!
Nutritious Protein Shake
With three delicious flavors, including chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry, the Orgain Kids Protein Organic Nutrition Shake features the taste kids love with a list of ingredients that parents can get behind.
These grab and go shakes are not only convenient, they’re also incredibly nutritious, offering eight grams of grass-fed milk protein and 26 vitamins and minerals in every serving including calcium, vitamin C, and vitamin D! Each shake is gluten-free, kosher, non-GMO, USDA organic, and made without soy ingredients, making them perfect for growing kids ages two and up.
Whether you need a convenient meal on the go, a nutritious drink to add to your child’s lunchbox, or an energizing snack before or after sports, this nutritious protein shake checks all the boxes.
Best Snack Tips for Parents
As a parent, you know that having access to easy nutritious snacks is a must at all times in order to keep growing tummies satisfied. In order to help you avoid reaching for those vending machine fruit snacks or running into the nearest gas station for popsicles or ice cream while on the road, we’ve compiled a list of the best snack tips for parents.
- Incorporate lean protein: Lean protein should be included as often as possible in your children’s snacks. Protein not only helps keep your kids full, it offers an important energy source for growing bodies. Protein shakes, as mentioned above, are a great option for getting your kids the protein they need.
- Choose whole grains: Whole grains offer complex carbohydrates that include more fiber and break down more slowly, which keeps your child full, helps regulate their bowels, and avoids blood sugar crashes that are common with sugar processed snacks.
- Plan ahead: If you want your child to have ready access to things like fruits and vegetables when they need a snack, it’s best to plan ahead. Slice vegetables ahead of time and keep them in the refrigerator along with kid-friendly dips like the protein sweet potato hummus above.
- Avoid added sugar: Kids of all ages are inclined to reach for sugary snacks whenever possible, so avoid added sugar by making swaps where you can. If your child asks for soda, for example, you can add seltzer water to some 100 percent fruit juice for a fizzy drink they’ll love that avoids the extra added sugar. When choosing a product that does contain added sugar, such as granola bars, look for brands that minimize their use of added sugar, like the Orgain Kids O-Bar.
- Control serving sizes: Kids can be tempted to turn a snack into a meal, so as a parent, it’s important to help them understand the proper serving size for a snack. Keep single servings of snacks on hand, such as sliced vegetables in a reusable container with a single serving of protein hummus or low-calorie dressing. A pre-made oatmeal yogurt parfait is easy for your child to grab and go, and you’ll know they have the right portion size.
- Choose organic options: Although it’s not always possible, opt for an organic option for your children’s snacks when you can. Snack options are often full of chemicals, preservatives, artificial colors and dyes, and other additives that your child doesn’t need. Organic fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and shakes deliver the nutrition your child needs safely.
Sources:
https://www.usda.gov/topics/organic
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/eat-these-foods-to-boost-your-immune-system/
