The hustle and bustle of back-to-school season has arrived. As your kids are settling into their new routines, it is important to establish healthy habits. One of the easiest ways to do this is to send them to school with healthy snacks each day. At Plunkett Fitness, we know that it can be difficult to come up with fun, healthy snacks for your kids, so we have created a list of some great options.
1. Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups
Fruit roll-ups are a childhood staple. Homemade fruit roll-ups are easy to make and offer for a healthier version of this beloved childhood snack, and this recipe uses only three ingredients. We love that this recipe can be altered to include any kind of fruit that your kids enjoy. While these treats do take a while to make, most of that is just dehydrating time. Homemade fruit roll-ups are sure to win your kids over at snack time.
2. Cheese
Cheese is an easy snack to send with your kid to school. Whether you opt for string cheese or cheese cubes, you can rest assured that your kiddo is getting protein and calcium without making a mess. To make sure your child doesn’t feel hungry, you can get full-fat or 2% fat cheeses. A few of our favorite snacking cheeses include cheddar, parmesan, mozzarella, and Pecorino Romano. Find a few that your kids like and pack them as a snack. You can include veggies, fruits, crackers, or deli meat with the cheese if you think your child will need a larger snack.
3. Peanut Butter Fruit Dip with Assorted Fruit
Kids tend to love peanut butter, or any kind of nut butter, really. With a little Greek yogurt, honey, and peanut butter, you can make a delicious snack for your children. Once you have the Peanut Butter Fruit Dip made, all you need to do is include some fruit for dipping. If your child’s school is worried about nut allergies, sunflower seed butter is a great alternative for this dip.
4. Homemade Gummy Bears
Gummy bears are a cute snack often associated with candy. But, these little cuties can also be a healthy snack if you want them to be. Using only fresh fruit, water, honey, and gelatin, you can make a much healthier version of gummy bears. We love this recipe from Kirbie Cravings. While this recipe calls for blueberries and strawberries, you can use nearly any fruit. If you are worried about your kids’ vegetable intake, you could also incorporate vegetables into the recipe. You can even mix and match flavors. You can get silicone molds to create the bear shape, or you can get any shape that your kids will enjoy. Making your own gummies allows you to pick your sizes and shapes. Get your kids involved in the creation of these gummies for a fun cooking activity.
5. GoGo SqueeZ Applesauce
Applesauce is a great snack, but it can be a pain to make sure you send your kids to school with a spoon. That’s why we love GoGo SqueeZ Applesauce. These applesauce packs are made for people on the go, so no spoons are required. Additionally, there are flavor options that your kids are sure to love like Apple Raspberry Lemon Twist, Apple Banana, Apple Mango, Apple Strawberry, and Apple Grape. Organic options are also available.
6. Nut-Free Trail Mix
Kids often love trail mix, but they might not love everything that comes in the store-bought mixes. Store bought trail mixes may also have a lot of added salt. A lot of children have nut allergies, which can make your child’s snack dangerous to other students. Instead, make your own nut-free trail mix. One of our favorite recipes is from The Lean Green Bean that includes chocolate covered sunflower seeds, Rice Chex, Cheerios, and dried blueberries.
7. Sabra Hummus Snackers
Hummus is a great snack for kiddos on the go. Sabra Hummus Snackers single serve hummus cups come in a variety of flavors with pretzels or pita chips. You can also get the individual serving cups and pack your own dipping foods such as celery, carrots, pita chips, pretzels, or crackers. These little cups allow you to make a snack that your kid will enjoy no matter their tastes.
8. Turkey and Veggie Wraps
Protein is often lacking in children’s snacks. With turkey and veggie wraps, you know that your kids are getting the protein they need to make it through their day. With turkey, cheese, and veggies, this healthy snack is sure to be a favorite. We love this recipe from Delightful E Made that includes sliced deli turkey, a wedge of Laughing Cow Cheese (in any flavor), bell pepper, and English cucumber. You can also modify this recipe with veggies that your kids enjoy.
No matter what snacks you choose for your kids as they go back to school, you will know that they aren’t going to be hungry throughout the long school days. If you are looking for a way to keep your kids active while also teaching them about a healthier lifestyle, Plunkett Fitness also offers a Kids Fitness and Strength Training Program. In the program, kids learn how to exercise properly in an environment that is still fun. To sign up for this program, call Plunkett Fitness today at 913-390-3360.
