I’ve committed to feeding my kids nutritious and organic foods. Junk food is full of sugar, carbohydrates and fat, none of which refuels kids for proper learning or good behavior.
Many children have behavior issues in the evening from fatigue and stress. Some of those issues may also come from improper or incomplete nutrition. I’m finding this to be true in my own household. If my son is well-hydrated and has a snack high in protein and low in sugar, his behavior tends to be better.
Here are my kids’ favorite snacks. They’re healthy, tasty, and they’re light, so the kids are not too full for meal time.
Trail Mix is a family favorite in my home. I can combine left over breakfast cereal, sunflower seeds, pistachios, dried cherries, almond slices, mini chocolate chips, dried cranberries and pretzels. You can make any combination of foods that your child likes and keep it in an air tight container. My kids love munching on this and helping to pick items they like. Sometimes it is raisins or a new nut or dried fruit. We like to have fun with this. It’s a treat but also nutritious (as long as we limit the chocolate chips!)
Frozen grape kabobs or fruit kabobs make fruit more fun and appealing. Kids love eating frozen fruits for a treat and you know it’s good for them. Better yet, involve the children!
Fresh veggies and dip. When children are used to having vegetables served to them, they become accustomed to eating them. Try different dips, and have your kids pick out the vegetables they might like to try. My kids like to have veggies, crackers and cheese for a snack.
Frozen yogurt is a refreshing, nutritious and satisfying snack. Try a smoothie if your child says she’s starving and needs a larger snack.
Super hero peanut butter protein balls, something my son loves! Here’s the recipe:
1 cup of natural peanut butter
1/2 cup of soy protein powder, cocoa flavor
1/4 cup of organic honey
1/2 cup of finely crushed granola
Mix together and roll into balls. Roll into coconut or crushed nuts if desired. Store in refrigerator.
Another great tip is to offer lots of water to hydrate your child! Children need water frequently throughout the day, and many of them don’t get it. I’m an advocate for children having stainless steel water bottles at school to stay hydrated. If schools don’t allow this, encourage your children to use the drinking fountain often, and make sure they drink plenty of water when they’re home.
Keeping the junk out of your home while allowing treats in moderation is important.
Source: greenandcleanmom.org
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