Ten healthy & delicious KID-FRIENDLY snacks
10 Easy, Quick & Healthy Snacks for the busy Mom (and her kids too)
Nutrition is really the key to living a healthy life and a healthy lifestyle but we all know how busy the day gets for Moms, and sometimes we barely have time to sit down and eat a proper meal!
This can get some of us into trouble when we are starving and running low on energy, as this is when we tend to make decisions that aren’t always serving our bodies’ best interest.
Having healthy, nutrient-dense snacks ready to go can make the world of difference to our overall health and wellbeing...not to mention our waistlines.
By choosing snacks like those in this list: you are giving your body an extra boost of nutrients to keep you feeling energized and ready to take on the day...all day!
A lot of us reach for high carbohydrate/sugar snacks when we need a boost of energy but as most of us know this will give us a quick boost followed by a very sharp decline. It is easy to understand exactly how these sugar/high carb snacks affect us by noticing how they affect our children. Oh boy, I have certainly learned what NOT to give my sons the hard way! This roller coaster effect from super hyper to really crabby & unreasonable isn’t something I enjoy especially right before bedtime! So, if we know it’s not good for our children, why would we do it to ourselves?
Here are 10 Snacks that you can feel good about eating and most are kid-friendly too!
Avocado (with some good salt) and rice cakes
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE avocado. It is chock full of the ‘good fat’ (and very low in saturated fat) It will satisfy your hunger and they are super yummy too! Don’t be afraid of the fat...fat Doesn’t make you fat….(but that is a topic for another day!) Here are some of the other nutrients in the delicious avocado: Vitamin K, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E, Folate, Potassium, Vitamins B% & B6. So dig in! Also, the 100% brown rice cakes are always the best choice...always check your labels as some companies sneak in chemicals and other fake ingredients that you don’t need or want in your body. For more on all of the health benefits from my beloved avocado check out the link below.http://authoritynutrition.com/12-proven-benefits-of-avocado/
Nut butter celery boats
Nut butter has gotten a bad rap at times but I know they can be your best friend when it comes to staying healthy and fit. It is packed with protein and fiber and this combination will keep your blood sugar levels steady and will fill you up longer so that you will eat less overall. My favorites are good old-fashioned peanut butter and almond butter….again just make sure to read the labels and buy ones that just have the nut of choice (and maybe a bit of salt!) I have attached a link with far more detail on all nut butter and their benefits...check it outhttp://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/090313p64.shtml
Mixed nuts and seeds
Nuts are rich in so many important nutrients. Of course, you will get different benefits depending on the nuts you choose but most all have lots of fiber, magnesium, zinc, and a good amount of unsaturated fat that will keep your body satisfied! Seeds are also a powerhouse of the good stuff! Did you know, pepitas are filled with iron, and sesame seeds can give you a massive boost of calcium?
Cucumber & cheese sandwiches
You are skipping the carbs and adding a delicious cucumber with this fun snack. Not only are these super easy to make but they will definitely fill you up! We all know that cheese is high in calcium, but it also has a good bit of protein, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin b12. I am a such big fan of the cucumber! It is a cleansing veggie that reduces inflammation in the body and has numerous antioxidants packed inside. It also contains unique polyphenols that may reduce your risk of chronic diseases. I have attached a link to a website that gives you even more ideas for cucumber sandwiches (and the pictures are gorgeous too!)http://thechrisellefactor.com/2015/02/5-healthy-cucumber-snacks/
Hard boiled eggs (with salt & pepper)
Eggs have been called “an exceptional superfood” and I agree completely. Unfortunately, for many years they have gotten a bad rap because of their amount of cholesterol. Thankfully, it has been proven over and over again that the cholesterol in eggs does NOT adversely affect the levels in the bloodstream - they actually increase the amount of good cholesterol in your body... so eat up! Eggs are filled with protein, a little fat, and all 9 amino acids...seriously, they are one of the most nutritious foods on earth! Having a batch of hard-boiled eggs in the refrigerator is the perfect ‘go-to’ snack (all you need to add is a little salt & pepper!) Here is a link for the perfectly cooked hard-boiled eggs http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_make_perfect_hard_boiled_eggs/
Coconut milk & chia seed pudding
This recipe is a great make-ahead snack or breakfast too. It is high in anti-inflammatory omega-3s and high in fiber so that you will feel full and it will even help you debloat! Besides the many health benefits of chia seeds, they become more gelatinous in texture when they are added to liquid so the texture is perfect in a pudding! I have a blog post for a chia seed recipe I love! CLICK HERE
2 ingredient pancakes (also in the recipe section)
These babies are made with eggs and a banana. Not only are they super yummy and naturally sweet, but they’re also really good for you too. I do make these for brekkie and my son loves them but I have been known to make extra and keep them on hand for myself when I am hungry...just pop in the frig or the freezer and have them on the go. You really don’t need to follow a recipe with these 2 eggs to 1 banana (& a splash of pure vanilla extract) but I do have the link to my recipe below! CLICK HERE!
Protein-rich smoothies (especially with greens that you can sneak into it!)
Smoothies are a great way to get a lot of bang for your buck. You can add in extra protein, greens, berries and have it on the go! I LOVE a morning smoothie but they are a perfect snack too. You just have to watch what you put into it as a smoothie full of fruit is going to give you a ton of sugar and calories and won’t satisfy your hunger for long!
Veggie and hummus dip
Really, you can’t go wrong with this snack. Not only is it a good snack to have on hand. It is always a good platter to take with you to your next potluck (that way you will know that there will be at least one healthy snack to munch on at the party!) I love carrots, cucumber, peppers (aka capsicum), broccoli, and baby tomatoes with homemade hummus. The benefits of this snack are many: traditional hummus is made with chickpeas and tahini both of which are super nutrient-dense and the veggies are loaded with all of the good stuff so eat up and enjoy!http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/hummus-recipe.html
Edamame
Although we need to be careful about ‘soy’ in our diet...Edamame, which is just a fancy word for boiled soybeans, are definitely a winner. These little beans are a complete protein and are chock full of other good nutrients too like fiber, iron, magnesium, vitamin D, Folate (and that is just a few) Needless to say these little babies are not only delicious, they are incredibly good for you! Read below for more info on the boiled soybean!http://www.expertrain.com/blog/health/reasons-to-eat-edamame.htm
