Nutrition and Snacks are the two words which will rarely look like getting along together especially when it comes to kids. Kids are often more into junk foods for snacks but a worried mommy is always on a lookout of healthy and nutritious snacks.
Do not loose hopes when your kid rejects a nutritious snack and rather opts for an unhealthy snack, it is the taste factor that only matters to kids and you too can serve your kid some nutritious snacks by making them in a way that only is yummy but is also tempting to look at.
Try these yummy nutritious recipes for your kids. Read On.
Whole Wheat Grain Cereals & Strawberries Clusters
Whole grain cereals are full with vitamins, calcium, and fiber. A bowl of enriched whole grain cereal with milk and fruit is a power-packed snack and is also a healthy start to the day when served as breakfast. But if that has become boring then you can try serving these with a twist. How about some cute clusters with yogurt covered cereal/ Flavored Cereals and dried strawberries?
Ingredients:
- 3 cups Yogurt covered cereal or Flavored Cereals
- 1/2 cup chopped dried strawberries
- 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips
Method:
- Place paper liners in mini muffin cups.
- Toss the whole-grain cereal and chopped dried strawberries in a medium bowl.
- Now melt the white chocolate in a microwave on high for a minute, stir it frequently in this one minute.
- Add cereals and strawberry mixture to this molten chocolate and give a good mix.
- Spoon this cereal mixture into prepared muffin cups and refrigerate until the clusters are firm.
Fruits & Cheese
The protein in cheese keeps energy levels high until dinnertime. Cheese with fruits make for a great healthy snack. Serve these in an interesting way by cutting these into fun shapes and serving them in skewers like kababs.
Ingredients:
- 4 cantaloupe or honeydew melon slices
- 2 ounces reduced-fat cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack cheese slices
- 4 fresh blackberries
- 4 whole fresh strawberries
Method:
- Use 1- to 1-1/2-inch cookie cutters to cut shapes out of cantaloupe and honeydew slices and cheese.
- Arrange the fruits and cheese onto 4 small skewers.
- Place in a flat storage container and refrigerate until serving.
Smoothies
Kids go crazy over these delicious liquid treats, and they’re packed with nutrients. Smoothies are a great way to sneak two or three servings of fruit and fiber into your child’s diet.
Ingredients:
- 1 container (8 ounces) vanilla-flavored nonfat yogurt
- 1 banana, sliced
- 1 cup frozen strawberries or peaches, if you can get fresh ones then it’s even better
- 1/4 cup orange juice
Method:
- Wash all the fruits if you are using fresh ones.
- Pour everything in a blender and blend until they are smooth.
- Refrigerate for a chilled smoothie.
- Serve.
Yogurt Swirls
Low-fat yogurt is an excellent source of calcium, and children love it served in a dressed up manner.
Ingredients:
- Vanilla yogurt
- Blueberry or strawberry preserves
Method:
- Pour some vanilla yogurt into the bottoms of cone-shaped paper cups.
- Now add a small dollop of blueberry or strawberry preserves to the cups.
- With the help of a toothpick, swirl preserves into the yogurt.
- Repeat steps 1 and 2 to fill cones in layers.
- Insert a Popsicle stick into each, and place cones in cups to keep the filling secure and upright.
- Refrigerate.
- Serve.
Hummus Sandwich
Made from pureed chickpeas, hummus is an excellent dip for kids. It has an appealing nutty flavor, is thick enough not to be messy, and contains folate, vitamin B6, and iron. How about not serving hummus serving simply as a dip, instead make a pita bread sandwich with it.
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons chopped olives
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped spring onions
- 5 tablespoons hummus
- 4 slices pita bread
- 6 cucumber slices
- 2 tomato slices
- 2 tablespoons shredded carrots
- 2 piece of lettuce
- Pitted olives, cherry tomatoes, cucumber for garnish
Method:
- Mix together the mayonnaise, olives, spring onions with a pinch of black pepper in a small bowl and keep aside.
- Spread the hummus on two slices of pita bread and the mayonnaise mixture on the other two slices.
- Layer the cucumber, tomatoes, carrots, and lettuce on top of the hummus.
- Top each hummus slice with a mayonnaise slice.
- Cut in half.
These were some yummy and nutritious recipes for kids. These are very apt for the summer season and many among these will beat the scorching heat and yet keep your kid healthy. Which among these will be you trying first?