Healthy Snacks for Kids — A Few Quick Tips

Try these healthy snack ideas.

• “Ants on a log” (celery with peanut butter and raisins)
• Fresh or canned fruit (canned in 100% juice, not syrup) with fat-free or low-fat yogurt
• Whole-grain crackers with low-fat cheese
• Vegetable “matchsticks” (thin sticks made from fresh carrots, zucchini, or bell peppers)
• Whole-wheat bread, rice cakes, or apple slices with peanut butter
• Quesadillas (low-fat cheese melted in a whole-wheat tortilla)
• Unsalted pretzels or air-popped popcorn
• Baked (not fried) tortilla chips and salsa
• Whole-wheat pita bread with hummus (dip made with chick peas)

Keep fresh fruit in a place that’s easy to reach in the refrigerator or on the table. This will make it easier for kids to grab a healthy snack.

Snack healthy on the go.

• Take unsalted nuts and unsweetened dried fruits, fresh vegetables, or fresh fruit in small reusable containers or baggies.
• Pack low-fat string cheese sticks.

Set the rules.

• Teach your kids to ask before they help themselves to snacks.
• Eat snacks at the table or in the kitchen, not in front of the TV.
• Serve snacks like pretzels or popcorn in a bowl. Don’t let kids snack directly out of the bag or box.
• Drink water, milk (fat-free or low-fat), or 100% fruit juice instead of soda or fruit-flavored drinks.

For more information on nutrition and kids, visit:
https://www.choosemyplate.gov/ten-tips-kid-friendly-veggies-and-fruits
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan/eat-right/choosing-foods.htm