Healthy School Snacks

Back to school time means busier than usual schedules, new sports and extracurriculars, and a time of adjustment. The hardest part of that equation is often the adjustment from the easy summer days to the jam-packed hustle of a new school season. It’s so easy to end up in the drive-thru when the time is short. And some days that happens–and it’s okay! But, it’s better for your health (and your wallet) if your family can plan ahead and prepare snacks and light meals for the upcoming week.

We all want to find snacks that are quick, easy, healthy, and family friendly (let’s face it, sometimes us adults can be just as picky as the kiddos, especially when we’re overworked, tired, and running late). So, find a few go-to snacks that you and your family can prepare together once or twice a week so that you will be ready for snacking success! Here are a few kid-approved (and dad-approved, and mom-approved) snacks to make together.

1. Fruit and cheese kabobs. Everyone can make their own. Cut up a variety of fruits (strawberries, grapes, melons, pineapple) and cheeses, put them on a stick and store in a reusable container. Kabobs are awesome for a couple of reasons. First, so much fruit gets wasted because no one wants to cut it up just to have a couple of bites. If you do it all at once, you’ve prepared snacks for several days and only have to clean it up once. Second, portions. If everyone makes their own kebobs, everyone gets the fruit and cheese they want, they’re in handy portions, and they’re more likely to get eaten.
2. Veggie and Hummus cups. Similar to the kebobs in their ease. Fill the bottom of a small glass cup with hummus and add carrot sticks, celery, and other veggies on top.
3. Ham and cheese roll-ups. A piece of ham, a piece of cheese, roll it up and stick a pretzel (or toothpick) in it.
4. Banana Zucchini Mini Muffins. See recipe here.
5. Store-bought snacks. Sometimes, it’s best to just have a few packaged items on hand. Individual bags of pretzels, apples, nuts, string cheeses, drinkable applesauce, dried fruit (watch for added sugars), and portioned out veggies and fruits, and individually sized peanut butter are all great things to have on hand.

Make snacking a success and healthy for all the members of your family. We wish you a happy, healthy, and wonderful new school year!