Many, many, many of you have emailed or left comments asking what on earth I feed my family for snacks since we try to avoid packaged crackers and other “stuff”. (See my list of the ingredients we try to avoid eating.)
Snacks are one of the most difficult foods to come up with, in my opinion. Especially when it seems that all afternoon I seem to be bombarded with, “Mama, I’m hungry again.”
One thing we’re working on is simply to encourage our kids to just eat more at meal time…and that seems to be working somewhat. But really…they do get hungry between meals. They can’t help it. They’re growing boys. (With hollow legs.)
I have found that I really have to think ahead and try to be prepared when it comes to snacks. Otherwise, I get frustrated when they ask me for one. (Like it’s their fault they’re starving again.)
Here’s a list of foods that I feel great about offering as snacks…
*Fresh fruit or veggies (of course)
*Homemade tortillas with peanut butter and honey or jelly or other yummy things inside
*Muffins or quick breads
~Applesauce bread
~Orange Muffins
~Chocolate swirl muffins
*Homemade bread and butter
*Whole wheat soft pretzels
*Nuts
*Popcorn with coconut oil and sea salt…or sprinkled with parmesan cheese
*Mudballs
*Milkshakes (recipe coming soon)
*Applesauce
*Homemade wheat crackers
*Homemade graham crackers (recipe coming soon) (oh so…yummy!!)
*Yogurt with fruit
*Breakfast cookies
*Breakfast bars
*Slushies
~Strawberry-Peach
~Pineapple-Orange
*Smoothies
*A treat made with natural sugars and whole wheat flour
There really are some great choices for snacks out there that provide your family with nutrition!
What kinds of things do you make for your kids for snacks?
Visit Tammy’s Recipes for more great kitchen ideas.
Those are great snack choices!
My kiddos really like
Veggies and Dip-I keep it this in the fridge all the time, cut up and ready to go.
Knox Blox-I don’t make these in the traditional way using Kool Aid. Instead I use fruit juice and crushed fruit. Any fruit works, expect for pineapple, since it prevents the gelatin from setting.
Knox Blox with Fruit Juice
4 envelopes of Knox Gelatin or equivalent in bulk gelatin.
2 cups of cold Fruit Juice(you can add some crushed fruit here, but not too much. Mostly you want a juice at this point.
2 cups Fruit Juice-brought to a boil.
Sprinkle gelatin over cold fruit juice. Let stand for 1 minute. Add boiling fruit juice and stir very well until all gelatin is dissolved. Pour into a 9X13 greased pan and refrigerate until firmly set. Cut into squares or cut with cookie cutters into shapes. To be eaten with your fingers.:)
These are much more firm than Jello, so they don’t make a mess when eaten. My kids love them! The gelatin is high in protein and of course fruit is good for you too.:)
Joyce
Oh, I should have mentioned that I use my Vitamix to crush fresh fruits to almost a liquid. This is especially delicious in the Knox Blox.:)
Joyce
Those are some wonderful and healthy snacks. Looks like you are doing a great job!
I know in some of my organizing tips that I have come across, it is suggested to have a spot in the refrigerator designated for snacks. That is a great tip I would have liked to have figured out when my kids were younger! :)
Oh so yummy! Thank U 4 sharing Laura-and for linking all the recipes!
Your breakfast cookies are a HUGE hit around here. I make a double batch every time.
I love your mudballs too. I’ve come up with several varieties with them too. Very yummy!
Have U tried Sally Fallon’s recipe for crackers–outstanding!
Several of my kids love the ‘sweet cheese’ with them too. (Buttermilk cream cheese with honey.)
My kids love popcorn and butter too!
If I make a homemade ‘dip’ -they’ll eat just about any veggie dipped in it.
I make yogurt-peanut butter dip for fruit.
They also like corn on the cob for snacks,lol.
SF’s cruncy almonds. (and seeds)
Lettuce leaves with cream cheese spreads(and sometimes leftover stuff like shredded chicken) and personally, I like peanut butter!
Frozen pops; juice, fruit, yogurt, etc. One of their faves is cranberry sauce mixed with my homemade yogurt or pineapple with yogurt…frozen in little cups.
I can hardly wait for your graham cracker recipe!!!!!
saturday, I made the almond breakfast bars. Yummy! Huge hit. And my dear hubby noticed that he didnt have a “sugar crash” after eating them. maybe becuase…they didnt have any sugar in them? LOL Today i made the mudballs for my girls after school snack. Again, delicious! And felt just A-Ok saying “yeah. you can have another one.” Thanks for even more snack ideas. :)
Oh yeah, I forgot. i made the strawberry/peach/spinach slushie for our breakfast sunday morning. Amazingly delicious.
WE have been on a track to eating healthy and your site has been great for learning more about the foods that we eat. I’m going to try some of these recipes this week. :D
Great snack ideas! I didn’t have enough oatmeal to try out the Apricot Bars, guess it will have to wait until the Hurricane passes by!
Do you grind your own wheat berries or buy ww flour? My stuff with ww flour doesn’t turn out very great….if you do buy it, then what brand works best.
Thanks!
Misty
My children like to snack on breakfast cookies made to your recipe. I have had to replace the honey with raw sugar because they eat so many and honey is just too expensive (about $15.00 per kilo) so it’s just not economical.
Thanks for all the healthy info and recipes you so freely share with all of us–it’s awesome!
One question–do you ever get out of the kitchen?? Making so much from scratch seems like an all-day, every-day job!
Thanks so much for the ideas & recipes! It is so hard to figure out what to feed the little ones sometimes! A list is a big help.
I made the Mud Balls with my 3-year-old daughter yesterday and could barely get her away from the bowl so the rest of us could get some! My husband and I are finding them tasty snacks, too! And even the baby downed one in her high chair last night.
I think we’ll be making them again…and again!
Thank you!
Great ideas, thanks.I’ll have to try the mud balls that everyone is raving about.I also have a list of low or no sugar snack ideas at my blog here:
http://angathome.com/2012/04/07/no-or-low-sugar-snacks-for-kids-morning-and-afternoon-tea-snack-ideas/