This is actually what I NEED TO WORK FOR ME, snacks, my biggest dilemma, what to feed the children that is quick, easy healthy and that they will both like (and that is not too messy). Wow, that is a tall order, right? And just to make it extra complicated you know I don’t like the boxed stuff from the stores. It would be so easy to have boxes of crackers and cups of pudding and such, but you know I try to stay away from “processed” foods. Don’t give me that look. I know what you are thinking – I did say TRY.
Anyway, I have my tried and true snacks:
Apples (they both like them) served with peanut butter for my son and cheese for my daughter – this is my easy go to snack
Okay, now I’m done. What else can I do? This is my mission. I want easy and I want healthy. We don’t really do fresh veggies with dip. We probably should but I prefer to eat my veggies with a meal, and my daughter only has 4 teeth so she can’t eat really crispy veggies.
Well I have a few more:
Bananas
Raisins
Popcorn
Cheese cubes
Applesauce
Peanut Butter Oaties
Fruit Salad
Cheese Quesadilla (if I ever get my tortilla maker)
I found a few I would like to try:
Recipe from here:
HOMEMADE FRUIT JIGGLERS
2 cups fruit juice of your choice (100% Natural Fruit Juice Only!)
3 tsp powdered gelatin
1/4 cup small cubed fruit of your choice
Place 1/4 cup of the juice in a cup; sprinkle gelatin over juice.
Stand cup in a small pan of simmering water, stir until gelatin is dissolved.
Stir gelatin mixture and fruits into remaining juice in a medium bowl or square/rectangular pan.
Refrigerate until firm.
Scoop into a cup or cut into shapes to serve. Let your Toddler help with the cutting of the shapes!
Break out the cookie cutters and make this a Toddler activity!
Okay so do you have some good ideas (Amee, I am counting on you)? Please share them with me, thank you!
For what actually works for people, please visit We Are That Family.
We really like nuts. (I realize that will be difficult with only 4 teeth, but she’ll grow more.
)
Another idea is fruit juice Popsicles. You can make your own and my children always feel as if they are being spoiled when they get these for snack time. They are a little messy, but that’s what decks are for, right?
I also have an amazing recipe for granola bars. They are simple to make, are very adaptable because you can throw all sorts of extra things in them, and loved by all of the children. It’s also simple to make them up ahead of time and then they are ready whenever you need them. I will post the reipce this weekend.
Blessings,
Kimberly
Ack! Too much pressure!!!
Well, let’s see…we do apples a lot. And strawberries and cantaloupe too.
Sometimes Hannah just wants a scoop of peanut butter on a spoon with some honey drizzled over it.
Grapes.
We do cheese quesadillas too.
Granola bars (I would love to have Kimberly’s recipe, if she gives it to you, would you pass it on to me?)
That’s about all I can think of right now. If I think of any others I’ll let you know.
Oh never mind, I just read where Kimberly said she would post the recipe this weekend. I’ll just look for myself! Ha ha!
I love your healthy snack ideas!!
We are big fruit fans! Apples, bananas, strawberries, blueberries….if it’s a fruit, we probably love it!
We also do cheese, raisins, cereal (I know it comes in a box, but so do raisins), granola bars, crackers, and popcorn. Although I must be like the only mother ON EARTH who doesn’t regularly give her kids snacks.
I’m also amazed that Makenna still only has 4 teeth! AND that she can eat apples with those 4 teeth! Reagan is working on tooth #12 (I think) and, well, we all know how apples work for her…
I just happened on this recently and it’s been a big hit. Pretzel sticks, peanut butter, and goldfish. Child dips pretzel into peanut butter, then catches a fish on the end. Kept a 3-year-old entertained for about an hour! And virtually no mess.
maybe some of the ones on my list will help!
http://glimpseofsonshine.blogspot.com/2008/10/master-snack-list.html
Heidi, I don’t give my children snacks either (at least not on a regular basis) Occassionally they have fruit or some nuts.
Gretchen, in my mind having a cheese quesadilla for a snack is equivalent to roasting a turkey for a snack…how funny. Quesadilla’s just don’t seem like snack food to me. But I do love them. Snacks should not require frying pans.
I would have liked to have been one of your children….they get all kinds of special goodies!
Thank you all for your ideas. I guess I should explain that my husband works weird shifts so our eating times revolve around him and it is sometimes a LONG time between our meals so that is why we do snacks.
Sometimes we do “heavy” snacks instead of one meal such as the quesidillas, but I haven’t made them in a long time because I want to wait until I have my tortilla press.
Thank you again!
I second the popsicle idea mentioned above! Sometimes I make my own and also blend in some cream cheese – it adds protein and calcium and also makes them like a cream-sicle!
We eat lots of string cheese, peanuts, popcorn, fruit, graham crackers with peanut butter (it’s boxed, I know)…
Hi. I was just surfing around some blogs, and I came across yours. It’s pretty nifty and I’m really enjoying my stay here. I’ve bookmarked your site for daily visits, and I hope you’ll visit me. I’d love to have you.
Have a great day and I’ll see you around the blogosphere. 
Posted the granola bar recipe, here is a direct link http://raisingolives.com/2009/05/granola-bar-recipe/
Blessings,
Kimberly