Thousands of children are about to return back to school, with parents busily buying school clothes and backpacks and getting kids ready for the carpool or the school bus. But have you stopped to think what those hungry kids are going to eat when they get home?
When I was a kid the first thing I did when I got home from school was raid the kitchen for some sort of a snack and something to drink before I went out to play. As more and more kids reach for video games instead of going out to romp in the sunshine we need to rethink snacks and make them more healthy, with less process sugar, more natural ingredients, and a lot fewer sugary soft drinks.
Just like adults, kids don’t want to eat the same thing over and over every afternoon. Planning ahead with labeled, sealed snack packs in several varieties solves that problem. Here are some healthy afternoon snacks ideas I came up with that you and your kids can put together over the weekend.
They’re a cinch to make and store in the fridge, easy to carry in plastic bags for snacking on the go at school or even the office, and the recipes use simple, fresh ingredients that won’t break the bank.
FRESH FRUIT WITH BROWN SUGAR AND YOGURT DIP
Ingredients:
Granny Smith Apples, sliced and sprinkled with fresh lemon juice to avoid browning
Pears, sliced
Strawberries
Blueberries
Cherries with the stem
Dip:
1/4 cup plain yogurt
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Mix dip ingredients together and store in an airtight container. Place sliced fruit in a plastic bag and press out the air to seal.
FRESH CARROTS WITH CELERY-PEANUT DIPPING SAUCE
Ingredients:
Carrots, washed, dried, and cut into strips
Celery, washed and cut into strips
Dip:
3 tablespoons peanut butter
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
Mix dip ingredients together and store in an airtight container. Place veggie strips in a plastic bag and press out the air to seal.
POPCORN GRANOLA TREAT
Ingredients:
1 bag microwave popcorn
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup fresh coconut
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup sunflower nuts
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Pop the popcorn in the microwave as directed on the package. Mix popcorn and remaining ingredients together in a large bowl and place a healthy scoopful in individual plastic storage bags.
FROZEN CHOCOLATE BANANAS
Ingredients:
2 large ripe firm bananas
6 ounces dark chocolate
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (not olive oil)
1/2 cup store-bought granola
popsicle sticks
parchment paper
baking sheet
Method:
Line the baking sheet with parchment paper. Peel the bananas, cut each in half, and insert a popsicle stick into the cut ends.
Place on parchment-lined baking sheet and place in freezer for 20 minutes to freeze.
Melt the chocolate with the vegetable oil in a glass bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds, then stir until the mixture becomes smooth.
Remove the bananas from freezer. Roll each banana half in the chocolate mixture, quickly sprinkle with granola, then place back on baking sheet and return to freezer to freeze fully.
Once frozen, place in individual containers and store for up to a week.
