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It can be a challenge to give our kids snacks they will actually enjoy eating, let alone find options with enough nutritional benefits. Common snacks we may give our kids such as fruit snacks and GoGurt can be much more harmful than we think. These snacks contain lots of added sugars and other potentially harmful ingredients including Blue #1. Blue #1 is a form of dye found in many snacks, candies, and cereals. The dye is linked to brain cancer, and can cause severe hypersensitivity reactions.
Other snacks we give our kids like potato chips are very high in sodium content. Too much sodium intake overtime can lead to various health problems such as heart disease. While it’s definitely okay for kids to have snacks like these in moderation, there are many recipes available for some healthier options. Our kids are ultimately still growing and developing. We want to give them foods that will fuel their bodies with energy and provide them with healthy snack options they will continue to try! Hopefully these recipes can even spark some ideas for some things you may want to start incorporating more often in your routine.
This is a simple snack to make for your kids. When you’re on the go and need to make something quick that will fill them, try out peanut butter-banana cinnamon toast.
So, How is it made?:
How is it healthy?
The peanut butter, whole wheat bread, and banana are all healthy ingredients. Peanut butter is packed with protein, and a good source of vitamins for your kids such as Vitamin E and Vitamin B6. Peanut butter is also a source of copper which will help to maintain bone health, similarly to milk. Enough copper in your diet can also reduce the risk of heart disease. You should use whole wheat bread for this recipe because it contains more protein and fiber than white bread. Whole wheat bread also contains a lot more iron. Iron is a nutrient key in red blood cell growth by supporting oxygen circulation. The banana can aid in digestive health, while the cinnamon on top is just an extra flavor boost. This recipe is very simple and something lots of kids would love. Some of that sweet taste without all those harmful ingredients!
This is the perfect healthy snack to get your kids going for the day. Simple and great for anyone with a chocolatey tooth!
Ingredients:
How’s it made?:
How is it healthy?:
Aside from certain ingredients such as the chocolate chips and honey, most of the ingredients in this recipe offer various nutritional benefits. Oats are very healthy, and can be helpful in particular for kids. Oats contain beta glucan, a soluble fiber that can lower your blood glucose and cholesterol levels. Beta glucan can also help to promote healthy gut bacteria, which is a benefit for kids because they have a tendency to get sick more frequently. Peanut butter is also a very healthy ingredient that was mentioned previously, as well as ground flaxseeds. If someone is struggling with their digestive health or constipation, flaxseeds are found to improve overall digestive health and relieve symptoms associated with that constipation.
Even though other ingredients in this recipe such as chocolate and honey are a bit high in added sugars, you don’t need to use much for this recipe. Just throw in a couple chocolate chips instead of using too many, and you can also substitute agave for the honey. Many people choose to swap out honey for agave in different recipes because it tends to be more organic. Even though agave is less sugary and a lot more natural than honey, be careful when using too much. Agave is still a high calorie sweetener and can affect liver health due to the high content of fructose.
These all-natural granola like bars from Simple Botanics are a great snack option for your kids. They are delicious and packed with healthy ingredients mentioned previously such as oats and honey. Instead of peanut butter, these bars contain almond butter, which is just a little bit healthier than peanut butter. Almond butter contains more vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Ingredients (Honey Nut):
Ingredients (Chocolate Chip Honey Nut):
After discovering what’s in these squares, it’s easy to see why they’re healthy snacks for both kids and adults! Remember, healthy snacking doesn’t always have to be hard or miserable! Hopefully these delicious simple recipes and healthy ingredients will inspire you to try something new with your kids.
