By Rachel
Food is a very big deal to kids. Every kid I have ever worked with has been very opinionated about what they eat and when they eat. The girls I work with right now are no exception. In a world full of processed food it can be a challenge to get them to eat healthy foods that will sustain them a little longer than Cheezits and potato chips. It’s been a journey for sure trying to find snacks that the girls enjoy, and I feel good about giving them. It’s taken awhile and a lot of experimenting but I’ve found several healthy snacks the girls love and will never turn down!
To give a little context, the girls I nanny are 10 and 11 years old, and like most other kids their age they lean towards the popular processed snacks they get fed at school and summer camps. And while they definitely do still ask for things like Lucky Charms and Doritos, They also frequently ask for the snacks listed below. If you’re in the same boat I was a few months ago and are discouraged that you will never get your kids to eat healthy, I encourage you to try the recipes below. If your kids are anything like my girls, they will devour them and ask for more!
1. Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
These are always a hit with the girls! I love them because they are filling and give the girls a little protein which is something they often struggle getting enough of. They take about 45 minutes to make, with 30 of those minutes being chilling in the fridge.
Ingredients
1 Cup Oats
2/3 Cup Coconut flakes
1/2 Cup Peanut butter
1/2 Cup Ground flax seed
1/2 Cup Mini Chocolate chips (I like using dark chocolate. It’s healthier.)
1/3 Cup of Maple syrup OR Honey. (Maple gives it a richer taste, Honey makes it sweeter. Either way they’re sweet. The girls prefer maple.)
1 Tsp Vanilla extract
Instructions
Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and let set in the fridge about 30 minutes. Take out of the fridge and roll in to balls. You can make the balls whatever size you want. I make mine a little smaller than a ping pong ball. Serve immediately or chill in the fridge longer. Store in fridge after making.
2. Fruit Cups
I’ve found fruit to be the easiest way to satisfy the girls sweet tooth in a healthy way. It’s so easy to put together too and takes almost zero effort. All it takes is gathering a variety of fruit and putting it in a bowl. Nothing fancy, and the prep time takes only a minute. I’ve found that the sweeter the fruit the more likely the girls are to like it. Strawberries and purple grapes are their favorite, and if that’s all I put in a bowl they’re happy.
I do like sprinkling new fruits in every once in awhile just to see if it’s something they enjoy. When I am adding a new fruit though I Always mix it in with fruits they are already familiar with. I know they love grapes and strawberries so if I want to find out if they’ll eat blueberries I’ll give them blueberries with strawberries and grapes. The reason I do this is because if they see a new fruit by itself they are less likely to eat it. Kids like what is familiar so when I add a new fruit to what they are already comfortable with, they are more willing to try it.
You can also make the snack a little more fun by adding a chocolate spread to dip the fruit in. I like using a chocolate almond butter spread. It’s like a healthier Nutella and they girls love it. I use the brand Barney Butter. I’ll also add a cheese stick if I feel like they girls need a little more than just the fruit.
Ingredients
Assorted fruits of your choice.
Optional toppings
Chocolate almond butter spread
Whipped Cream
Instructions
Serve Fruit in a cup or bowel.
3. Peanut Butter Banana Muffins
These are a favorite with the girls. They are so easy to make and don’t take granulated sugar! These are another one I love to use when I feel like the girls haven’t been getting enough protein because they contain peanut butter and I can add a scoop of protein powder if I want to.
Just a side note. Protein Powder is often my secret weapon. I add protein powder to pancakes, muffins, smoothies, ect. It works with almost any baked good and is tasteless so the girls never know the difference but they are getting extra protein.
Ingredients
1 Cup Peanut butter
1/4 Cup Maple syrup OR Honey
2 Ripe bannas mashed
1 Tbs Vanilla
1/2 Tsp Baking soda
2 Eggs
1 Cup Chocolate Chips (I use dark chocolate)
Optional
1 Scoop Protein powder
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Using a hand held utensil or a mixer, mix together the ingredients. I usually stir the chocolate chips in last. Line a muffin tin with cupcake wrappers or grease with coconut oil, and fill with muffin batter.
Bake for 13-15 minutes. Check to see if they are done by inserting a toothpick into the muffins. If it comes out clean the muffins are done. If batter comes out with the toothpick they need to bake longer.
Serve immediately or cool. They taste great either way!
4. Banana Grahm Crackers
Bananas are a great snack option for kids. They are full of nutrients and antioxidants and they are filling. Most kids like bananas too, even by themselves. I like pairing them with chocolate and graham crackers to make them more fun. I use Barney Butter’s chocolate almond butter spread and spread it on a a halved graham cracker topped with sliced bananas. You can also do variations of this by putting dollops of chocolate spread on top of sliced bananas and serving them without the graham crackers, or replacing the chocolate spread with peanut butter. I’ve done lots of variations and the girls have enjoyed all of them.
Ingredients
Bananas
Graham crackers
Chocolate almond butter spread
Instructions
Break graham crackers in halves and set on a plate. spread a layer of chocolate spread on each half.
Slice bananas into bite size pieces and place on top of graham crackers. Serve immediately and enjoy!
5. Popcorn Trail Mix
Popcorn can be as healthy or unhealthy as you make it. It doesn’t have to be the overly buttered, greasy snack you get at the movies. There are lots of popcorn options that are very healthy. You can pop your own kernels, or if you’d rather a faster more convenient option, I love Skinny Pop Popcorn . Their popcorn is made with few simple ingredients and avoids artificial flavors and is non GMO.
I enjoy this snack because you can change it up by adding different things to the popcorn so it’s always something new. Some of the girls favorites are dark chocolate chips, goldfish and pretzels. There are endless options so you can always change it up so your kids don’t get tired of the snack.
Ingredients
Popcorn
Toppings
Dark chocolate chips
Goldfish
Pretzels
Dried fruit
Nuts
Sunflower seeds
Dried yogurt bites.
Instructions
Mix your toppings into the popcorn and enjoy!
