5 Healthy Snacks Your Kids Can Make Themselves

on August 31, 2010 at 7:25 AM

pantry If your kids are like most, they come home from school FAMISHED. No matter how much they eat for lunch, they're ready for a snack before their backpacks hit the ground (even though they should be hung up neatly instead).

And while snack time can be a great bonding time because they have to slow down at least a little, it's also nice if they can pitch in and make snacks for themselves. It just takes planting a few ideas in their minds and the right ingredients in your pantry and refrigerator.

It will save you time, help them become more self sufficient, and it's healthier than just handing them a bag of chips.

Here are five favorites:

Roll Ups

Forget the fake "fruit" kind, start with whole-wheat flour tortillas and some filling choices like hummus, cheese, vegetables, lunch meat or even peanut butter and jelly. Your kids can do the filling and rolling. These also make great portable snacks to take on the way to wherever they always seem to be going.

Pita Pizza

Using a whole-wheat pita as the crust, they can top it with some jarred pizza sauce, fresh veggies and mozzarella cheese. Microwave for about 30 seconds or broil for a few minutes in a toaster oven, and pizza is served.

Parfaits

Have on hand plain vanilla yogurt, granola, fruit and maybe even a few sprinkles (they make even the most sullen teenager smile) and let them layer the ingredients to create their own personal parfait. If you give them a fancy glass to put it in, even better.

Nachos

It just takes a few minutes to top baked tortilla chips with black beans, tomatoes, green onions, olives and any other toppings they like. Cover with a sprinkle of shredded cheese and microwave for about 30 seconds. Ole!

Ants on a Log

An oldie but a goodie. If you slice up celery (or buy it that way), they can quickly fill it with peanut butter and top it with raisins for a protein-packed snack. You can also switch things up and offer Nutella and peanuts on apple slices as well.

Do your kids make their own snacks? What are their favorites?

Image via carolyn.will/Flickr

About the author Julie Ryan Evans

can be found writing from coffee houses wherever she may be. The quality of her days is largely influenced by the seat she nabs and whether a protein plate is available.

Filed Under: cooking with kids, snacks

Comments (8)

MomIWant

on Aug 31, 2010 at 8:19 AM

My kids favorite was Swiss cheese and pickle rolls or ants on a log!

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LOVE_mygirls58

on Aug 31, 2010 at 7:01 PM

my kids love cucumbers with a little bit on ranch on them

and cream cheese pickles and turkey

KTMOM

on Sep 2, 2010 at 10:18 AM

One of my son's favorite things is chips and salsa. We have a friend who sells his owesome natural organic salsa and we eat tons of it.

on Sep 2, 2010 at 10:21 AM

*awesome*, now owesome. LOL

cleanaturalady

on Sep 7, 2010 at 8:31 AM

My kids do make their own snacks. Nachos are always a hit, as are wraps.

Carey2006

on Sep 10, 2010 at 12:59 PM

Sometimes......fruit dipped in yogurt

Pnukey

on Sep 15, 2010 at 9:04 AM

My kids make their own snacks. Their favorite is microwave popcorn. They can make other things, but that's their favorite.

Nonmember comment from Andy

on Sep 17, 2010 at 12:42 AM

My son has lost 100 Lbs in 18 months, and every morning he has a Joan's Sweet Treat for breakfast. They come in two flavors Original and Oatmeal Raisin. They have 175 calories and 183 calories respectively. They are made with 100% natural ingredients, but the most important ingredient is the WHOLE wheat flour. This is not your regular store bought ENRICHED wheat flour. This is the grain ground into flour with ALL the nutrients that nature intended. These granola bars are VERY FILLING and will stick to your ribs. My son (age 20) would eat a bar on the way to his 8:00 class and he would be satisfied until lunch. ALL for 175 calories. Please visit the website WWW.NATURALTREATS.ORG They taste great and you will enjoy them.