Favorite Healthy Snacks for Your Kiddos
Are you tired of your kid school lunch box left-overs, and finding nutritious snacks that your kids will love? Many parents overlook the fact that a child’s academic performance is directly related to his or her diet. Without the right combination of nutrients, children can hardly focus and retaining information becomes a struggle. We all know that kids are so picky with their snacks, but they will definitely love yogurt, berries, bananas, peanut butter, and watermelon if they see it included in their lunch box.
Yogurt is full of important nutrients that your child needs to be healthy including calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B-2, vitamin B-12, potassium, and magnesium. The popular ingredient of yogurt are probiotics that help in regulating the digestive system. One of the most common ways in consuming healthy bacteria that is healthy for the gut is through probiotics, which are effective in decreasing diarrhea, gas, bloating, and constipation. As compared to milk (with 100 mg per eight ounces), an eight-ounce of low-fat plain yogurt contains 400mg of calcium. At home, yogurt can be made as a salad dressing or homemade fruit pops. You can also make fruit and yogurt almond tart or multiple layered yogurt dips. Berries are kids’ favorite because there are not only delicious but also full of nutritional goodness. Raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries have vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants. Berries can be consumed as is, but to add twist for your kids, you can serve it freeze-dried or poured into oatmeals or yogurt. Berries help in fighting off sugar cravings so your kids can stay away from unhealthy foods. Bananas have becomes a favorite treat for children ever since the release of Minion and Despicable Me movies. Bananas are not just good sources of potassium but also prebiotics, helping the body in proper nutrient absorption. It can be mixed with veggies and yogurt too!
Peanut butter is also a great addition to your child’s lunchbox because it contains protein, magnesium, and vitamins, making a good source of energy. Opt for natural peanut butter than processed peanut butter since natural ones have less sugar. Watermelon is the official fruit treat for summer, and a great treat for school, that is high in antioxidants, amino acids, vitamin C and vitamin A. Parenting is a lifetime responsibility so we need to be mindful of our children’s nutrition, and get involved in their lives by learning about what they love and what they want. Parents should be creative and patient when preparing food meals for their lunch box. Reading online blogs about parenting and good nutrition is very important in ensuring that you can properly guide your children. Build precious memories with your children by taking with them, eating together, and playing together.