Summer means long days of fun in the sun and constant movement! Playing around all day can really work up an appetite for your kiddos, but sometimes a snack too late in the day could ruin dinner. Try making these easy afternoon snacks that will satisfy your kiddo without ruining dinner!
Ants on a log (with a sweet or salty twist)
This classic snack is kid and mom-approved, but try to change it up a bit. For a sweeter treat, smear some almond butter on a washed celery stalk and decorate with mini chocolate chips. For something saltier, smear your kid’s favorite hummus on to a washed celery stalk. Decorate the “logs” with chia seeds for some added magnesium in your kid’s diet. Your kids will love snacking on this tasty treat after a long day at the pool.
Healthy afternoon smoothies
Most of the time, a smoothie is seen as a breakfast food, but it can be perfect for the afternoon, too! If you have older kids, make smoothie packs to keep in the freezer that your kids can grab, blend and enjoy! Buy frozen fruits like bananas, strawberries and peaches, and fill an ice cube tray with dollops of yogurt. Once the yogurt is frozen, fill each baggie with two cubes of yogurt and a cup of fruit, and store the baggies in the freezer. Want a smoothie? Just dump the contents of a baggie into a blender with half a cup of milk/fruit juice and blend! Now your kid has a cool snack that they can sip on when they get home from a long day.
Personalized trail mix
Trail mix is the perfect snack food, but when you buy it from the store, it can be full of hidden evils like candies and extra sodium. Try making some trail mix that is full of stuff that you know your kiddo likes! For example, if you know they like raisins and pretzels, make those two items the main ingredients. Then, you can add in some almonds, banana chips, pumpkin seeds or coconut flakes. Making these mixes will give them a taste of what they like, but it can also expand their horizons to things they’ve never tried before. This salty snack is a much better alternative to bags of chips or cheese snacks. It is also good for both the kids and the parents!
All of these options are great easy afternoon snacks that won’t ruin dinner! Your kids will be happy when they get to munch on something when they get home, but they will still be ready for whatever tasty meal you have planned for the family!
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