Healthy Snack Ideas

[summergirl1211]

As I mentioned in one of the other threads, I'm having a hard time coming up with snacks for the whole family that aren't full of sugar or processed junk. We try to do fruit often, but when we do it at every meal it's hard to also do fruit during snacks as well. And Riley isn't huge on vegetables, but she does like hummus. So anyway, what are your go-to, healthy snacks for yourself as well as your kid(s)? 

TIA!

[xanthepants]

My kid is all about fruity snacks which drives me crazy so I've been steering her towards raisins, dried pineapple and mangos. We do air popped Popcorn on movie nights. Also apples or pears with cinnamon on them (let her do it). PB on celery (let her spread it). Yogurts. Cheese sticks or cheese and crackers. Graham crackers. PB toast. Carrots or Cauliflower - plain. Fruit otherwise is my go to because we tend to try veggies at dinner.

[jodielyn10]

For snacks my go-tos are bananas with peanut or almond butter, raisins, some cheddar (I just cut a slice from a brick and give it to them), animal crackers, veggie pouches, and strawberries.

[bliz1712]

Air popped popcorn, pretzels, veggie straws, animal crackers, raisins, cheese or fruit.

[mightybee]

A lot of fruit. Currently liking frozen grapes and banana slices. Peanut butter. Nuts--cashews, pistachios, Brazil nuts. Dried fruit. He likes seaweed--get it from Costco. Cheese. Cherry tomatoes and cucumber slices.

[mightybee]

I did some different hummus variations for the sugar challenge. Sweet potato and avocado were good additions, but D wouldn't eat any hummus!

[junkytrunk]

M loves to dip anything.
Apple slices and peanut butter, carrots and hummus, raisins, dried cranberries, we also do a lot of fruit, he will eat basically anything (watermelon, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cantaloupe, bananas) graham crackers, avocado, pistachios.

[britbratjf]

Dagny loves hummus - she will dip pita chips, carrots, raw mushrooms & cucumber. Apples are a big hit, peanut butter. I make homemade "granola" bars - 1 cup of peanut butter, 1 cup of honey, melt together on the stove, stir in 3 cups of old fashioned oats, press into 8x8 pan & refrigerate overnight. Cut into small squares for snacks (make sure to grease the pan!!). I mean there's peanut butter & honey so it's not super healthy but I think they are better than store bought.

[bantyrooster]

Fruit. Popcorn. Cheese sticks. Pretzels. Peanut butter anything. Cucumbers

[xanthepants]

Nuts! I never think about nuts, that is a perfect one that I can throw in my purse. Good idea.

I was also making those little energy bites (granola honey, PB etc) and she really liked those instead of a cookie. Not exactly healthy but a decent wholesome mix of stuff in there that I can control. britbratjf, recipes reminded me of those. I need to make those granola bars. I could eat those too!

[summergirl1211]

Jul 15, 2015 9:49:41 GMT -5 britbratjf said:

Dagny loves hummus - she will dip pita chips, carrots, raw mushrooms & cucumber. Apples are a big hit, peanut butter. I make homemade "granola" bars - 1 cup of peanut butter, 1 cup of honey, melt together on the stove, stir in 3 cups of old fashioned oats, press into 8x8 pan & refrigerate overnight. Cut into small squares for snacks (make sure to grease the pan!!). I mean there's peanut butter & honey so it's not super healthy but I think they are better than store bought.

This sounds good and something we would all probably eat. Thanks!

[bliz1712]

I also have a homemade granola bar that's healthy. Eliza likes it, but Hanna has resisted trying.

[mightybee]

Hard boiled eggs, too.

[snickers4everyone]

Can you guys share some of your other granola bar recipes that your kids like? Pretty please?

[bliz1712]

My granola recipe:
1/2 cup all natural peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
(I reduce the honey to 1/4C and up the PB to 3/4 C. 1/2 of honey was just too sweet)
1 3/4 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1 tbsp ground flax

Mix peanut butter and honey together thoroughly. Add the rest of your ingredients. Mix well until there are no dry parts.

Press into 9 x 9 pan, cover and leave refrigerated overnight.

Makes 12.


I've found that you pretty much want to eat them right out of the fridge. Otherwise they can get crumbly and messy. Also, I didn't do the coconut and instead did mini choc chips.

[samelly]

For veggies, DD loves baby carrots and sugar snap peas.  For fruit, she loves strawberries, raspberries, cherries, grapes, and mandarin oranges.  These are all great because they don't require much prep.  I usually give her a small amount of cheese too so she gets some fat/protein with the snack.  I like getting some pre-wrapped individual serving cheeses because it's easy.

I'd love if DD ate avocado and hummus, but she's not convinced.  

[cbear]

I try to do morning snacks a healthy one: fruit, veggies, raisins, apples with peanut butter, almonds

The afternoon she can have something more "junky": fishy crackers, peanut butter crackers, chips (usually tortilla chips), cheese sticks

[justbeth]

Y'all are really making me side eye myself with our snack options! I usually do animal crackers, gold fish, or dried fruit. Emma likes to eat the same thing every day. She's probably had a plum organics breakfast bar every single morning for at least 6 months. I really stink at cooking though and hate morning, sooooooo I let it go.

[bliz1712]

Jul 15, 2015 13:36:58 GMT -5 justbeth said:

Y'all are really making me side eye myself with our snack options! I usually do animal crackers, gold fish, or dried fruit. Emma likes to eat the same thing every day. She's probably had a plum organics breakfast bar every single morning for at least 6 months. I really stink at cooking though and hate morning, sooooooo I let it go.

Those are just the healthier options we use.  We definitely do gold fish, graham crackers, and other items just not as frequently.

[summergirl1211]

Jul 15, 2015 13:36:58 GMT -5 justbeth said:

Y'all are really making me side eye myself with our snack options! I usually do animal crackers, gold fish, or dried fruit. Emma likes to eat the same thing every day. She's probably had a plum organics breakfast bar every single morning for at least 6 months. I really stink at cooking though and hate morning, sooooooo I let it go.

justbeth, I hear you. We give Riley waffles, pancakes or a muffin for breakfast every day (once in awhile eggs when I feel like making them). And snacks usually involve raisins, fruit (blueberries, strawberries, grapes), cheese (which she loves but we have to be careful b/c she gets constipated easily) and crackers. She loves pb crackers! And lately she's been having some Fiber One bars that are yummy but so full of sugar. We need to get them out of our house! 

[origamimommy]

Here are a few of my faves:

Don't be scared by the dates! You can get them at costco and these are soooooooooossssoooooo good!
www.superhealthykids.com/healthy-no-bake-snack-bars/

Be careful not to over cook!
www.superhealthykids.com/quinoa-coconut-granola-bars/

This is the granola I make, except I use almond oil instead of coconut (one less step, since you don't have to melt the almond oil) and I add flax seed, chia seeds, and coconut flakes:
www.imperfecthomemaker.com/2012/04/easy-homemade-granola-recipe-plus.html

And this is my favorite recipe blog to follow. Some stuff is stupid, and I wouldn't make it, but a lot of stuff is really good, easy, and healthy:
www.pinterest.com/healthykids/

[justbeth]

Jul 15, 2015 13:42:24 GMT -5 summergirl1211 said:

Jul 15, 2015 13:36:58 GMT -5 justbeth said:

Y'all are really making me side eye myself with our snack options! I usually do animal crackers, gold fish, or dried fruit. Emma likes to eat the same thing every day. She's probably had a plum organics breakfast bar every single morning for at least 6 months. I really stink at cooking though and hate morning, sooooooo I let it go.

justbeth, I hear you. We give Riley waffles, pancakes or a muffin for breakfast every day (once in awhile eggs when I feel like making them). And snacks usually involve raisins, fruit (blueberries, strawberries, grapes), cheese (which she loves but we have to be careful b/c she gets constipated easily) and crackers. She loves pb crackers! And lately she's been having some Fiber One bars that are yummy but so full of sugar. We need to get them out of our house! 

This sounds like Emma. She would eat cheese all day long, but the kid can't poop ever. We also have those fiber one bars... They are so good! I give them to Emma on bad constipation days.

[britbratjf]

Jul 15, 2015 13:36:58 GMT -5 justbeth said:

Y'all are really making me side eye myself with our snack options! I usually do animal crackers, gold fish, or dried fruit. Emma likes to eat the same thing every day. She's probably had a plum organics breakfast bar every single morning for at least 6 months. I really stink at cooking though and hate morning, sooooooo I let it go.

Oh Dagny eats a bag of fruit snacks daily and usually has vanilla wafers/gold fish/teddy Graham's too. I just listed some healthier options I go to.

[snickers4everyone]

You guys are awesome. I'm getting some awesome ideas.

[heatherbee]

Jul 15, 2015 13:42:24 GMT -5 summergirl1211 said:

Jul 15, 2015 13:36:58 GMT -5 justbeth said:

Y'all are really making me side eye myself with our snack options! I usually do animal crackers, gold fish, or dried fruit. Emma likes to eat the same thing every day. She's probably had a plum organics breakfast bar every single morning for at least 6 months. I really stink at cooking though and hate morning, sooooooo I let it go.

justbeth, I hear you. We give Riley waffles, pancakes or a muffin for breakfast every day (once in awhile eggs when I feel like making them). And snacks usually involve raisins, fruit (blueberries, strawberries, grapes), cheese (which she loves but we have to be careful b/c she gets constipated easily) and crackers. She loves pb crackers! And lately she's been having some Fiber One bars that are yummy but so full of sugar. We need to get them out of our house! 

I make mini muffins with veggies in them and freeze them for DS and he eats them for breakfast or snacks. Let me know if you want recipes. His favorites are spinach muffins and zucchini muffins!

I don't have many new ideas to add for snack time - most of our favorites have been covered . My DS likes guacamole and I've bought the little snack size portions for him.

[snickers4everyone]

Jul 15, 2015 18:44:31 GMT -5 heatherbee said:

Jul 15, 2015 13:42:24 GMT -5 summergirl1211 said:

snip

I make mini muffins with veggies in them and freeze them for DS and he eats them for breakfast or snacks. Let me know if you want recipes. His favorites are spinach muffins and zucchini muffins!

I don't have many new ideas to add for snack time - most of our favorites have been covered . My DS likes guacamole and I've bought the little snack size portions for him.

I would love the recipes you have! I made spinach muffins from Pinterest and they were awful. I know a bunch of you on here have made them with success so I figure I got a dud recipe.

[sarahandeddie]

Everyone has listed some great ideas. My girls enjoy making their own trail mix. We usually use multi grain cheerios and nuts. Then we add what we have on hand. I usually let them add one nonhealthy thing but keep it a very small amount compared to everything else.