Simple Snack Ideas For Kids: set out natural, wholesome goodies like cut up vegetable spears, dried fruit and nuts, and something sweet, like applesauce. My family is enjoying healthy snacks as part of a sponsored series with GoGo squeeZ and Socialstars. #GoGosqueeZSquad #ad
Holiday season is in full swing. And, if you’re anything like me, you’re wondering how many more calorie-laded snacks you can eat before you can’t fit into your pants anymore. Between my sister’s Thumbelinas and my husband’s cookie pie, it seems that sweet treats are always nearby! But ’tis the season to be robust and jolly, no?
All kidding aside, around this time, I do start to get a bit wary of how many calories we’ve been consuming since Halloween. And even though I like to joke around that I’m just putting on my “winter weight” during this 3-month stretch of Holiday fun, I still need to set a good example for the kids and remind them that everything is good…in moderation. So although I don’t scold them for noshing on one too many cookies when Santa is near, I do try to balance out their sweet treats with as many heathy options as I can.
This definitely comes into play when I am setting out Holiday snacks for the “Kids Table.” Our kids are notorious for never wanting to sit and eat during the Holidays, so we make sure to set out lots of healthy snacks for them to “take on the run” while they’re playing. This ensures that they’re getting a variety of healthy options, so that they don’t crash later on in the day. I’ve found that if they have lots of wholesome treats on hand, they’ll happily snack on those — especially if their table looks super fun and festive.
We try to stock our “Kids Table” with an assortment of wholesome goodies like cut-up vegetable spears, cheese and crackers, dried fruit and nuts, and something a bit more filling and sweet, like applesauce (our kids love GoGo squeeZ). We like their table to be full of simple, natural food whenever possible because we believe that kids can get excited about healthy, on-the-go snacks. And, when they’re offered a variety of healthy options, they’ll get to discover new things to taste and enjoy.
However, we understand that it’s not always as easy as it sounds. So we’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks for you to encourage your kids to choose some healthier snacks at the Holiday table this year.
5 TIPS FOR SIMPLE SNACK IDEAS FOR KIDS
1.) Make it fancy!
Our kids love cheese and crackers, so we create a plate that’s just for them. We always include their favorite — cheddar cheese — but to mix things up a bit, we also add some other mild cheeses for them to taste too. Brie is a lovely addition. When it’s heated, it gets creamy, gooey and super mellow. Plus, when served alongside airy, water crackers and jam, it’s a fancy treat for them.
2.) Let them dip!
What is it with kids and their obsession with dipping things into things, eh? Seriously, as long as we include some sort of dipping sauce, our kids will try anything. They may not like it, but at least they’ll try it first before getting all dramatic and spitting it into their napkins. Since we always serve Italian food on Christmas, we’ll be setting up some crispy baked zucchini and eggplant disks for them to dip in homemade sauce.
3.) Pair old favorite foods with new ones.
Whenever we want our kids to try something new, we simply pair it with an old favorite. This way, they don’t panic when they see it on the table. So along with their beloved carrot sticks and cucumber spears, we’ll also set out something completely different like a bowl of crunchy edamame or roasted cauliflower. Then, one of the adults will walk calmly over to their table and pop a couple of them in their mouth before walking away. Inevitably, one of the kids is always compelled to try “popping” it into their mouth too.
4.) Keep them hydrated.
Water is always our go-to beverage, but on the holidays, we want the kids to have something special. With all of the sugar they’ll consume at dessert, we try to stay away from juice and soda. Our kids love when we make them cold brewed Iced Tea – it’s so easy to make and incredibly versatile too. We let the kids pick the flavor and then just stock our pretty water cooler full of ice. They love being able to help themselves and it ensures that they stay hydrated all day long.
5.) Offer a variety of food for them to nosh on.
As we mentioned earlier, we like to keep a healthy variety on their table. This way, they can snack as they please and we know that they’re not grabbing handfuls of chocolate out of their Christmas stockings. Even though our kids are good about eating their veggies, they still want something sweet on the table. To work with their cravings, we also set out packets of GoGo squeeZ and graham crackers. According to our kids, there is nothing better than applesauce and graham crackers mixed together. Who knew?
We hope our tips help you have a healthier, happier Holiday season. We look forward to chatting with you more in the New Year.
Your Mom friends,
Denine & Daniele
