Healthy Afternoon Snack Ideas that Kids Will Surely Love

Growing kids get hungry up to five times a day; every three to four hours they need to eat something. It is recommended that toddlers eat six times a day: three times as main meals and at least two snacks. Older kids would eat four times a day: three main meals and one snack. Kids with active lifestyles, especially those practicing sports more than twice a week, and the kids going through growth spurts will get hungrier and can eat two snacks a day.

Do you feel the urge to serve something a little different and new to your kids in the afternoon, after school or a long day playing outside? Do you want to highlight some food groups your kids might need more? We have collected some new and fun snacks your kids will love any time of day:

Fruit Juice

While kids can get bored of sitting down and eating every two hours, some fresh nutritious juice can provide them with a good amount of vitamins and fibers. Do you know that there are recipes for fruit juice? You can add red or green apple juice to some carrot juice to make it more appealing to kids. That drink will aid digestion, boost their vitamin C and A, improve vision and eye health and have many more health benefits. Your kids can make their own recipes and play around with juice colors based on what fruit they add to their drinks.

Yogurt

A simple yogurt snack is an excellent choice as a good source of protein, calcium and probiotics. Choose a plain yogurt rather than yogurt marketed to kids because they are high in sugar and food coloring. You can mix yogurt with some honey, granola and dried or fresh fruits for a sweet taste and you can add some cucumbers and mint for a savory snacks.

Popcorn

Surprisingly, it is a nutritious whole-grain snack; it contains four grams of fiber in every three-cup serving. This is unless you add unhealthy toppings like sugar, chocolate and caramel sauces, or salt and flavored additives. However, you can choose better toppings from your pantry like butter, Parmesan cheese or some honey. Be cautious when offering it to toddlers; it can be a choking hazard.

Popsicles

Make them with real fruit juices, add some Greek yogurt, and it makes up a full snack packed with vitamins and protein. Get your kids to enjoy the process.

Veggies and Dips

A platter with veggie sticks such as carrots, celery and cucumber and some dips like hummus, peanut butter, black bean dip and fresh tomato salsa, is a playful and easy snack for kids. They can eat it when they have friends over or while watching a movie.

A good rule is to consistently offer snacks two hours before and after a main meal. Discouraging snacking immediately before a meal will help your kid have a good appetite for the main meal. Always keep snacks in reach during activities or road trips. Hungry kids will get cranky, and can end up eating unhealthy chips or candy.