Summertime
is here, so make sure you have some tasty and healthy snacks ready
and available for your family. Don’t let the easily accessible
afternoon ice cream; BBQs, and unhealthy snacks get the best of you.
While there
are plenty of snacks in stores, many are processed and can be quite
unhealthy. It’s important that you have options that are
affordable, quick, and healthy. Fill
your summer days with delicious and nutritious snack options that
will leave your family and your waistline, satisfied.
Cheerios
Remember
back when a bowl of Cheerios was how you started your day before
school? As it turns out, your mom was right on the nutrient money
serving those for breakfast. The whole-grain oats contained in
Cheerios and other whole-grain cereals are perfectly digested to
provide essential fiber and are a great source of Beta Glucan. Beta
Glucan
is proven to naturally boost
the
immune system, along with many other noted health benefits.
Try prepackaging them in
small baggies for each of your children, or even for you to snack on
while you’re on the go.
Homemade
trail mix
Though
trail mix and granola may sound a bit 1970’s, they can actually
make an extremely healthy snack for you and your family. The key is
to move away from unhealthy fats and move more towards naturally
toasted grains, nuts and berries for the best nutritional punch.
Start by toasting oats in your oven, or purchasing pre-toasted oats
from the store. Keep nuts as close to their natural raw state as
possible so you’re able to enjoy the healthy oils. Instead of
opting for chocolate, as found in many trail mixes, look towards more
exotic dried fruit. Try cranberries, blueberries or even goji
berries to boost the nutrition and keep both sugars and fats low.
Fresh
cut watermelon
Is
there anything more summery than fresh cut watermelon? Not only is
the juice extremely hydrating making it perfect for a sport snack,
it’s also low in calories and considered a very nutrient-dense
food. Try juicing it and making it into a tasty ice pop, or simply
offer cut up wedges to your hungry kids. Aim for the seedless variety
if you’re planning to serve it to the youngsters, as it’s easy
for them to swallow the seeds.
Fresh
cut vegetable dippers
You
may find yourself often reminding your family to eat their
vegetables, but are you making that a fun experience? Kids love
interesting shapes and textures, and are more likely to try things
that play to this. Try using a paper ice cream cone cup to hold
carrot sticks, cucumber halves and sweet cherry tomatoes with a
variety of dipping sauces on the side. While many pre-bottled sauces
can be unhealthy, homemade
hummus or yogurt-based
sauces are easy to make, delicious to eat and healthy to give
your family. For snacks on the go, invest in some small dipping cups
and baggies of veggies for both you and the kids. It’s excellent
food made easy.
For
families on the go, it’s essential to have a plan for your
snacking. Keep it simple, and healthy with these snack options that
are perfect eats for the summer heat. Fulfill your kid’s snack
time cravings with foods that contribute nutritional value, while
also keeping the calories down.
