Do your kids come home from school or play roaring like a bear that they are hungry and looking for a snack? My boys frequently do. While on their rampage through the home looking for something yummy to each, they often stop at grabbing sweets and junk for a snack, which doesn’t give them any fuel for energy. Here are some tips on how to pick smart snacks that will fill their need to munch and snacks you can feel good about, too.
How to Pick Smart Snacks
I received compensation for this post. All opinions are my own.
Check Those Labels – Certain snacks might appear like a decent snack at first glance, but you might be surprised if you flip over the package. Watch the labels to understand appropriate portion sizes and what ingredients are hiding inside.
Avoid Chips and Snack Mix – It might not take too much thought to consider that potato chips and similar varieties probably aren’t the best snacking choice. Have you ever considered that tortilla chips are right up there in the same realm as unhealthy as are pre-packaged snack mix. Make your own homemade snack mixes, instead, where you know exactly what is going into the mix and how much to serve.
Make Popcorn “Right” – Popcorn can be a great snack! It’s filling, fun, and you can munch on quite a bit of popcorn with relatively low calories and carbs. However, store bought overloaded with butter popcorn isn’t the healthiest choice. Instead, pop your own popcorn with an air popper and moderate what you put on top to make it a great choice for an after-school snack.
Make Veggies Fun – Vegetables are a great snack for being filling and healthy in one, but often kids will reject plain vegetables. Instead, make your veggies fun by presenting them in unique ways, adding a healthy dip like hummus or peanut butter, or cooking the veggies for a different approach.
Use Variety – Simply offering different snacks from day to day can go a long ways in giving your child a variety of nutrients and keeping snack time fresh and interesting. Try different fruits, veggies, and grains. A simple slice of toast can make a simple, filling snack. Go for a hard boiled egg the next day. Follow that with a dish of cottage cheese and peaches after that. Your kids will love the variety and may be more willing to try different things each day.
When your kids have a craving for something sweet, pick a snack that is smart but will still feel like a treat to your kids. SMARTCANDY is infused with vitamins and feels just as fun as the not-so-healthy alternatives they are used to. They have two varieties, each in two flavors.
FROOT looks and feels like a candy treat, but isn’t! It’s a disguised yogurt and candy coated fruit snack. It comes in Strawberry and Orange varieties. GUMMY comes in sour and sweet varieties and feels like a package of fruit snacks with natural goodness and vitamins to make it a snack parents feel good about choosing!
Ann Bacciaglia
Wednesday 8th of April 2015
These are great snacking tips. I have not heard of smart candy before. I will have to get some and try it.
Cathy @ Our Mini Family
Wednesday 8th of April 2015
Snacking healthy is crucial! Thanks for sharing!
Meagan
Tuesday 7th of April 2015
Love your idea of making veggies fun! The more appealing I make my son's snacks, the more likely he is to eat something healthy.
Autumn @Mamachallenge
Tuesday 7th of April 2015
These are great tips! I will have to check out Smart Candy for my kids!
Stacey- Travel Blogger
Tuesday 7th of April 2015
Smart Candy sounds tasty! I would like to try the gummy ones.