Children love to have a snack after school.
Easy-to-make snacks are convenient for long trips in the car, after school, and times when your child just wants something to munch on. Prepare snacks that are high in protein so that kids' energy levels can stay up. A bowl of enriched whole grain cereal with milk can provide calcium, fiber and vitamins. Cut back on salt and too much sugar.
Celery and Peanut Butter
Serving children fresh and raw celery provides a great source of Vitamin B-6, vitamins A, C and K, as well as potassium, magnesium and riboflavin. Celery is low in cholesterol and saturated fat. Serve the celery with either peanut butter or a low-fat dip, such as ranch sauce. Alternatives to celery and peanut butter are fruit dipped in yogurt or graham crackers dipped in applesauce.
String Cheese and Crackers
String cheese provides an excellent source of calcium and can be served with either whole wheat or regular crackers. String cheese can be enjoyable for children to eat because they can peel apart the slices of string cheese and put them on the crackers to eat. String cheese comes in several flavors and styles, including braided, smoked and unsmoked; some are flavored with garlic or onions. For low-sodium diets, soak the string cheese in water to remove some of the salt.
Hummus and
Hummus can be a delicious dip for pita wedges. Pita edges can be barbecued on the grill for a delectable taste. Hummus with pita wedges has significant sources of fiber and protein. Top your hummus with olive oil and parsley sprigs. Dip the pita wedges into the hummus for flavor. When preparing the hummus, salt it lightly. This snack may be more convenient as an after-school snack.
Low-Fat Pudding and Graham Crackers
Purchase a cup of pudding of your child's favorite flavor. Crush up a few low-fat graham crackers and sprinkle them into the cup of low-fat pudding. Consider cinnamon graham crackers to add more flavor to the pudding. Serve a few crackers on the side in case the child wants more. You could also buy a few boxes of instant pudding, layer the graham crackers and pudding in a pan, and refrigerate overnight.
Low-Fat Yogurt
Yogurt is one of the best on-the-go snacks for kids. All you need is a plastic spoon and the carton of yogurt. Yogurt has plenty of calcium and can be dressed up with blueberries, which are a good source of Vitamin C, and other fruits such as strawberries and raspberries, or granola.
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