If your kids are anything like my kids, they burn off a lot of energy. And with that expended energy, they need to refuel with snacks. Whether in school, at home or at an activity, a good, healthy snack can help keep the energy level that they need. But not all snacks are created equal…some are much healthier for kids than others.

From an early age my kids have been on the go. From the minute they started to walk they have been in constant motion stopping only long enough to eat, sleep or do schoolwork. Maybe that is not entirely true, but it certainly seems that way!

My kiddos have been very active since they were very young. They will spend more time outdoors playing, running, and jumping, than they do indoors playing video games. That is great! Kids need exercise to have healthy body and gives them a good head start on being a healthy adult. The problem is sometimes they get so wrapped up in what they are doing that they don’t want to take time for a good meal. My husband and I share the cooking and meal preparation duties, and I am proud to say we do our best to provide a good, nutritious meal each time. The problem was the in between snacks that our kids would eat.

My mother-in-law, who is a kind, caring woman had a bad habit. She would buy some not so nutritious snacks and would sneak them to my kids. So, when I wasn’t looking, they would snack on sugary cookies, candy and other items that my husband and I would not buy. It is not the worst thing they could do, but it provided me with an educational opportunity to explain why eating healthy snacks are important to them.

So, what are some items that are healthy, but your kids will like? Fortunately, there are a number of snacky foods that fit the bill. Depending on the time of day there are many snacks that you can give the little ones. And some they may even like – haha.

Morning Snacks

• Toast – Always a nice snack, but instead of just plain butter, add apple butter, honey or preserves. My kids think this is yummy!
• Fruit Cup – One of the best snacks involves fruit. While just a plain fruit cup is healthy on its own, it’s not on top of the kids list. That’s why I try to top the fruit cup with yogurt and honey. Healthy and the kids love it!
• Yogurt – Another great snack is yogurt. It’s healthy and nutritious and to make it fun I usually add either strawberries, bananas or other items to make it a good snack.

Afternoon Snacks

• Granola Bars – A nice snack that the kids can take on the run with them are granola bars. But just granola can be very bland, so I like to add things to it. I have added honey, raisins, craisins and other items that can make it tasty, but still keep it healthy.
• Fruit Bread – One of my favorite snacks that my mom used to make was applesauce bread. It was very simple to make and tasted great. I also bake if for my kids but also do some other snacks such as banana bread, which I experiment by adding nuts, raisins, and other items. I like to mix it up and the kids enjoy it.
• Apples – One of the best snacks are apples. While just eating an apple is a great snack, I like to change things up. I will do a chunky applesauce, baked apple and use it in many of my snack ideas. It’s healthy and a great source of natural energy for the little ones.

These are just a few ideas on how to make snack time a healthy and fun time for your kids. Many of these snacks can be enjoyed at home or away from home. But I would also suggest experimenting with different ingredients to find out what works for your family.