As much as I love Halloween, I dread all the candy that it brings into the house. My kids are now old enough to remember it's there and exactly what kind of candy they got! So, I thought this was a good time to get a reminder on some fun, healthy snack choices for kids that might actually help to "woo" your kids away from some of that candy, and that you can use for your next party. Introducing Tammy Mahan, a writer for
Healthline who has some great choices for your kids. You can even sneak these ideas into your Halloween parties tomorrow.
There are numerous alternatives to candy and sweets as snacks for kids; it just takes some thought. There are a number of ideas that are
healthy and enjoyable to children that do not take a lot of money, time or
effort to create.
The food is vital to a party but peanut butter and jelly
sandwiches, dried fruit snacks and mixes of nuts and fruit are healthy
alternatives to cupcakes and jellybeans. Hot meals can include cheese pizza,
salads or casseroles to give the children an actual meal while they are there.
Most of the foods that children eat at parties traditionally include ice cream,
cake, cookies and other sugary snacks but you can get them to eat healthy and
enjoy it. It simply takes a little planning.
Fruit Cups
Cut up bananas, strawberries, and apples and toss in some grapes for
a treat kids will enjoy. Place yogurt on the side as a dip; you can buy low fat
yogurt or make your own with vanilla yogurt as a starter. You can also make
yogurt with fruit simply by mixing it and putting it in individual serving containers.
Fruity Faces
This delicious, yet healthy snack allows the children to play with
their food. Give the kids paper plates and pieces of fruit that has been cut
into geometric shapes, some cheese slices and nuts so they can create faces.
They will eat the creations they make.
Trail Mix
You can make trail mix in advance as a healthy snack for a kid’s
party and put out all the ingredients to let guests customize their own. Use a
cereal like cheerios or Chex, nuts, pumpkin seeds, raisins, shredded coconut,
dried fruit, and pretzels. Put them all
in a mixing bowl, and toss them together. Use individual serving plastic bags
or containers and set it out for the kids to enjoy. If you let them create
their own, set all the things they will need out on the table for them.
Fruity Salsa
Another healthy snack alternative for your next kid’s party is
fruity salsa. You simply blend up fresh strawberries, pineapple slices,
bananas, apples and a little bit of lime and lemon juices to a salsa
consistency. This works for dipping cinnamon tortilla chips.
It is easy to make cinnamon tortilla chips, simply spray them with
cooking spray and sprinkle cinnamon sugar on them. These go in the oven for
about ten minutes or until they get crispy enough to dip.
Ants on a Log
This healthy snack is simple requiring only celery sticks and peanut
butter or flavored cream cheese in case of an allergy. Cut the celery into
sections, fill it with either peanut butter or cream cheese, and sprinkle
raisins on it. You can use strawberries or pineapples in place of the celery to
give it a little variety.
These healthy snack alternatives will be a hit with kids, and you will not have to worry about their sugar
intake.
Tammy Mahan has worked in the healthcare field for over 20 years.
When her children were young, she realized how important it was to try feed her
children healthy foods and avoid the junk food that has now created a world
with several unhealthy and obese children. In her free time she enjoys writing
for Healthline.
