How to Get Kids to Eat Healthy Snacks

One thing that most kids have in common is a love for snacks. They often raid the refrigerator when they get home from school,and when they're at home on the weekends or during the summer they are ready for a snack every few hours.

Children often gravitate toward snacks that are less than healthy, such as chips and cookies. If you want them to eat healthier, you have to provide healthier choices. But even then it can be a challenge. A little creativity can go a long way toward encouraging healthier snacking.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Dips
• Peanut butter

1. Find healthy foods in disguise. You can buy things like snack mix, baked crackers and chips, and trail mix at the grocery store. Kids often love these, and while they may not be as nutritious as fresh fruits and vegetables, they're a better choice than cookies and snack cakes.

2. Make fresh fruit and vegetables as appealing as possible. Cut up apples or bananas if your child prefers them that way. Offer dips, mix fruits to make a salad or put them on a plate together in a fun design. Make funny faces on bagels with cream cheese and raisins.

3. Pair healthy snacks with things that kids already like. Peanut butter is almost always a hit with kids and it goes great with a variety of fruits and vegetables. String cheese is also lots of fun and tasty with many healthy snacks.

4. Let your child help prepare healthy foods. They can knead dough for breadsticks, help measure and stir ingredients, or put vegetables on miniature veggie pizzas. Once they've helped prepare something, they usually can't resist at least trying it.

5. Set a good example. When your kids see you eating and enjoying healthy snacks, they will be more likely to do so themselves.

[Susanh]

on 10/8/2008 Wonderfully healthy snack ideas.