Grabbing a quick snack often means sacrificing good nutrition for convenience in today’s chaotic world. Between work and the kids’ extracurricular activities, finding the time to prepare healthy snacks and meals can seem nearly impossible.
A little planning goes a long way to keeping your family on track to healthy eating. Here are a few simple snack ideas that’ll make you feel good about what you feed your family.
An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
Pre-cut fruits and vegetables are quick, easy snacks that appeal to both children and adults, and the more they eat, the better for them. Food guides in both Canada and the United States recommend at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Aside from fuelling the body with essential nutrients, fruits and vegetables lower blood pressure and the risk of heart disease and cancer.
It might seem cumbersome (not to mention time-consuming) to keep a supply of fresh fruits and vegetables on hand for snack time, but it doesn’t have to be.
Build time into your grocery shopping routine to clean and portion vegetables as soon as you get home from the grocery store. By doing so you can keep a supply of carrot and celery sticks and pepper spears on hand for when the munchies kick in, or for a quick grab on your way out the door.
Don’t ignore the nutritional value of canned fruit, fruit cups, and applesauce. These products have a long shelf life and are good choices when you need something to grab on the go. Look for applesauce without added sugar and canned fruit in juice. These have less sugar and fewer calories.
Don’t forget about dried fruit. Raisins, apricots, dates, and cranberries are sweet and tasty.
Be a Trail (Mix) Blazer
Make a stop at the local bulk food store and load up on homemade trail mix ingredients. Mix pretzels, wheat Chex, cranberries, raisins, chocolate chips, and nuts together. This snack is both sweet and crunchy and packed full of protein. It’s simple and filling.
While you’re browsing the aisles, consider other easy snack ideas, such as nuts, sunflower seeds, or rice crackers.
Think Outside the Box
When we think of ‘snacks,’ we tend to think of pre-packaged foods like chips, candy bars, or cookies. But consider the healthy alternatives that are available now already packaged in single servings, such as cheese sticks. And just because you can’t find something pre-packed doesn’t mean you can create your own grab packs. Toss dry roasted nuts into a snack-sized zipper-close bag—or crackers, pretzels, or raisins. Don’t forget the foods that nature has provided a package for: hard-boiled eggs are a protein-rich snack.
Make a Treat Out of It
If you have the time, create a fruit smoothie to boost your fruit and vegetable intake. Pour 6 ounces of low-fat yogurt and 4 to 8 ounces of milk into a blender. Add a banana, 5 strawberries, 10 raspberries, and 2 peeled kiwi fruit. Blend until smooth.
Dianne Duckett - Hailing from Northwestern Ontario, Canada, Dianne graduated from the Journalism program at Cambrian College in Sudbury, Ontario, in 2007. ...
