Fruit
This seems a logical choice for a sweet treat and though handing a child an apple is sometimes enough, making fruit appealing will be more consistently successful. Try some of these delectable treats.
1. Frozen grapes. Wash either green or red seedless grapes and spread them out on a cookie sheet, put them into the freezer for about an hour. Take them out and place them in individual serving size bags. My own children preferred these to a bag of candy.
2. Frozen bananas. Peel, cut into two pieces and gently insert a popsicle stick into the wide end. Dip into some melted chocolate (chocolate is good for you!) and place on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Once frozen, place into single serving bags or wrap in foil.
3. Apple with dipping sauce. Core the apple and cut apple into rounds, about 1/2 inch thick for easy handling. Make up a sauce of yogurt choosing a flavor that will compliment the apple such as vanilla. Using plain Greek yogurt with a little honey added will be a favorite as well. Put the yogurt into a small dish to make it seem special.
4. Peanut butter sandwich. This may sound boring but you can do so much with a peanut butter sandwich. Try very thinly sliced pear slices pressed down into the peanut butter for something different. If using banana, mash the banana first before putting it on the bread. It will look like jam and the little rounds won't fall out. This is also a good way to use the heel of the bread which no one seems to want. Simply turn it heel side in and once the peanut butter and fruit is on, no one knows they are eating the heel.
5. Fruit kabobs. Using kabob sticks (or toothpicks if you don't have them), slide an orange slice, strawberry and kiwi round on the kabob. Repeat until your kabob is full. For a crunchy kabob, use apples and pears. This is a fun treat for the kids to make themselves.
6. Baked apple. This is something that will seem special and when made in the microwave, will take very little effort on your part. Core the apple, drizzle a little honey over the top and put a cinnamon stick into the center. Put on a microwave safe dish and cover with wax paper or Saran wrap. Nuke for about 3 minutes, check if done (time will depend on the wattage of your microwave). Heat additionally if necessary. This can be very hot when you remove them from the oven. Be sure it has cooled completely before serving.
Nuts
These are full of protein and will satisfy the craving for a salty snack without the empty calories.
1. A snack of any kind of nuts will seem more special if put into individual little dishes or into sealable snack bags. The snack bags are a good idea since they will fit into a child's pocket to be pulled out when they are ready to take a break from play. Small children should be supervised when eating nuts as they may pose a choking hazard.
2. Make a granola-type mix using a variety of nuts. Add raisins, dried fruit such as pineapple and dried banana. Add some coconut and you've got a delicious and nutritious treat.
Cheese
This is always a favorite with children and provides a good dose of calcium. Stick with real cheese when possible and not the processed cheese slices so often used in cheese sandwiches.
1. Grilled cheese sandwich. Use shredded cheddar and a good whole grain bread. Make your sandwich special by adding thin slices of apple before putting on the top slice of bread. If you worry that this may spoil your child's appetite for dinner, at least he will have gotten all things good from his sandwich. Presentation is important so why not use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes or cut into pointy pieces.
2. Make a little platter of different types of cheese to set beside the child while she is doing her homework. This is a terrific way to introduce her to different tastes. Ask her which was her favorite for future treats.
Vegetables
As snacks this may seem a stretch for some children but there are ways to make these desirable as well. Again, remember the presentation.
1. Offer finger carrots with a dipping sauce such as ranch dressing. Most kids like this but to offer something different, try a dip of Thousand Island dressing or French dressing.
2. Cucumbers appeal to children because of the crunch. Score the sides of the cucumber before you slice it to make it pretty. Put the slices into a single serving snack bag to keep them from going limp.
3. Celery has the same crunch appeal and can be dipped or eaten raw. Make of game of "who can make the loudest crunch".
And Finally
Though as parents we tell our children not to play with their food, if we can wean our children away from processed sugar and salt snacks and teach them that eating good and healthy can be fun, then isn't a little play okay? The most important thing about giving your children what they need is to keep all that junk out that they do not need. An occasional treat of ice cream or a slice of cake will do no harm if balanced by the good choices you have given them.
Iris Gallagher - Writing has been a passion for as long as I can remember. I still have poetry I wrote as an eight year old. I was born in Tennessee, grew ...
