Guest Blogger: Quick and Healthy Snacks for Busy Families by Allison F.

When you are always on the go you may think you don’t have time to give your kids healthy snacks. However, that is not true. There are many healthy quick snacks that are easy to make and eat, even on the go. Here are some fun snack ideas for your children:

1. Ants on a Log – This classic kid’s snack is one we all love. Parents love it because the peanut butter is a good source of protein and keeps toddlers full longer. Kids love the whimsical look and the great flavor combination. First wash and cut celery into finger sized pieces. Fill the hollow with peanut butter to make the log. Top with a few raisins for the ‘ants’. Pair with fun fruit shapes like a banana and kiwi palm tree or a toast and jelly ‘picnic blanket’. This is also great when made with almond or cashew butter.
2. Apple Sandwiches – Why stick with boring old bread when you can make fruit sandwiches instead? This easy and fun sandwich idea gets your kids the fruit they need in a way they will love. Start out by coring an apple. Cut the apple into slices with the hollow core in the center. This will be your ‘bread’. Spread a thick layer of peanut butter on one slice of apple. Sprinkle with raisins or dried cranberries. Top with a second apple slice to finish up your sandwich.
3. Goldfish® Crackers – These cheesy fish are a big hit with every toddler I know, but they can get a bit pricy. I have made my own before, and though it takes a bit of patience to cut all those tiny shapes, the crackers do taste tons better. All it takes is a cup of cheddar cheese, half a stick of butter, a cup of flour, two tablespoons of water, and three quarters of a teaspoon of salt. Stick everything in the food processor and pulse until combined. Then form into a ball, let it chill for half an hour, and roll out thin before cutting into shapes. Bake at 350 for fifteen minutes or until the crackers are crispy. Yum!
4. Graham Crackers – Another kind of cracker that kids love is Graham crackers. Did you know they were originally created as a diet food? Of course the modern crackers have far more flavor and sugar than the original version, but many varieties are still high in fiber. My kids love these crackers plain with a glass of milk to dip them in. You can also get creative and make a sandwich out of them. Just spread a layer of peanut butter and add some banana slices to half a cracker. Top with the other half for a fun, sweet sandwich treat. Apple slices instead of banana work great too.
5. Animal Crackers – These bland crackers are not my favorite. Personally, I can’t stand them. My kids, however, love them. I think it is more the fact that they can play with the fun shapes rather than the flavor. Regardless, the crackers are low in fat and make for a fun snack time. Pair with homemade banana pudding for a tasty dessert.
6. Cracker Sandwiches – Lunchables are something that my kids beg for. However I don’t like the price or the quality of the food they get. That is why we make our own Lunchables! Cracker sandwiches are very versatile and can be made to fit any kid’s tastes. When I was a kid I added spicy mustard to my sandwiches, but that is just me. My kids love to layer on slices of low fat cheddar cheese and turkey breast to their whole wheat crackers. The idea is to cut the cheese and meat into cracker sized shapes so that the kids can have fun making their own simple sandwich stacks. You can control how much they eat and the quality of the ingredients with no problem.
7. Tiny Pizza – Taking another hint from the Lunchables my kids crave, I came up with a way to make tiny pizzas for snacks. I whip up a batch of pizza dough and separate it into smaller pizzas. After baking, I store the mini-pizza crusts in a gallon bag in the freezer. I make up little bags of pizza sauce and mixed low fat shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Then when my tots want a Lunchables pizza snack, I pull out one or two crusts and let them make up their own. They love the fact they can make their own pizza and I love it that I know what they are eating. My older kids beg for these in their lunch too!
8. Baby Veggies – Getting kids to eat fresh vegetables is often a struggle, but I found that one way to encourage them to eat more is to buy the baby varieties. The tiny carrots and tomatoes and so on capture little kid’s imaginations and their taste buds. Often sweeter than their full grown counterparts, baby veggies are still packed full of nutrients. I like to serve only a small bit of low fat ranch dip alongside so the kids can enjoy the flavor of the veggies themselves. Another way to get kids to eat their veggies is to help them grow their own. When kids invest time in a garden or even in just a couple of plants in a pot they will be much more likely to eat whatever is produced. Tomatoes are a big hit for my kids, especially cherry tomatoes, as they can get a lot of produce from a small plant. Beans and peas work great, too, as do green peppers. See what you can grow in your area or start an indoor garden with your kids.
9. Cheese and Fruit – The classic combination of cheese and fruit is classic for a reason. They taste great together! Get your child to eat more fresh fruit and healthy, low fat cheese by creating kabobs. Cut the cheese into fun shapes with a small cookie cutter and add on colorful fruit to entice your toddler into eating this healthy snack. Another way to get more calcium in their diet is cottage cheese. This milky cheese comes in great tasting low fat varieties. Sprinkle on a little salt and pepper and pair with fresh or canned fruit for a tasty treat. My kids love it with mandarin oranges or fruit cocktail.
10. Oatmeal Cookies – Last but not least is the cream of the crop. Oatmeal cookies look like dessert, but are actually a tasty and nutritious snack anytime. Make them even better for your kids by substituting apple sauce for some of the oil and use egg whites instead of whole eggs. You can also add in dried fruit, like raisins and cranberries, and even some finely chopped nuts for protein. Full of fiber and tasty too, these cookies will be a hit with your kids.

As you can see most of these snacks can be made in a few minutes or prepared ahead of time and eaten on the go. From creative sandwiches to fun and flavorful natural foods, your kids will love these quick healthy snacks.

Author Byline:

Blogging for was a natural progression for Allison once she graduated from college, as it allowed her to combine her two passions: writing and children. She has enjoyed furthering her writing career with www.nannyclassifieds.com. You can reach her through e-mail allisonDOTnannyclassifiedsATgmail.