Healthy Snacks For Kids

January 3rd, 2010

Kids love snacks. If you’re not careful, they can develop a serious junk food habit at a young age. There’ s no reason why snacks have to be unhealthy. What are some healthy snacks for kids? In many cases, it’s just a matter of taking foods that kids already love and making some adjustments.

Lately we have heard about the epidemic of obesity among children, which is something all parents should be aware of. In addition to paying attention to your kids’ diet, it’s also important to make sure that they get regular exercise. It’s too easy today, for children and adults alike, to develop sedentary habits with so much entertainment available online and on TV.

Sweets

All kids, and most adults as well, love sweets. There are some ways to make sweet snacks healthier. If you buy candy or cookies for your children, choose some of the organic or all-natural brands available in natural foods stores or the health food section of your supermarket. Even better, bake some treats and learn to use moderate amounts of all natural sweeteners like honey, organic raw sugar, agave syrup or stevia. Even these natural sweets should be consumed in moderation, as they can cause the blood sugar spikes that can contribute to hyperactivity in kids.

Healthy Pizza, Burgers and Hot Dogs

Why not make some healthy alternatives to traditional favorite junk foods? For pizza, you can get some organic, whole grain English muffins and put fresh mozzarella and tomato sauce on them, creating a fast and delicious pizza. Let your kids try vegetarian alternatives to burgers and hot dogs. Putting toppings like mustard, ketchup, onions or sauerkraut can give them an authentic taste.

Chip Alternatives

You can also find natural and organic potato and corn chips, as well as veggie chips.

Fruit

Fruit is always healthy, whether fresh fruit, dried fruit or juice. In all cases, look for natural or organic products without added sweeteners. If you have a juicer, the possibilities are limitless. You can mix all kinds of healthy fruits and vegetables together, making truly healthy energy drinks!

Even when it comes to healthy snacks for kids (as well as adults), it’s important to watch the salt and sugar levels. These can be high even in otherwise healthy, all-natural and organic foods. When it comes to any kind of chips, you can sometimes find salt free varieties. You can make homemade popcorn and put on your own salt, which can usually be tasty using half the amount used in commercial prepared and microwave popcorn!