A Smart Mom’s guide to healthy snacking for kids! ( part 1)
Kids love snacking. Snack time is their favorite time and they want to enjoy their favorite cookies, chips or cupcake as a snack to satisfied their taste buds. Though these snacking options may sounds tempting and may satisfied your kid’s taste buds temporarily but from health and nutrition perspective, unhealthy snacking is a major cause of childhood obesity.
Unhealthy food choices and lack of physical activity are two major factor that causes increase in prevalence of “childhood obesity” at rapid rate.
According to research, the prevalence of obesity has become more than double among children age 2 to 5 year (5% to 12.4%) and age 6 to 11 year (6.5% to 17%). In teenagers, the prevalence rates have tripled (5 to 17.6%).
Though these statics are scary but as a responsible parent, we can help our kids to eat healthy and making smart choices to maintain an ideal weight as per their weight and height.
Why healthy snacking is important? How can we help our kids to make right snack choices? What are some easy to make and healthier snacking options for kids? Read the post to know more about it.
This post will be in two parts. The first part is about learning the basics of “Healthy snacking” and in second part, I will share some amazing healthy homemade snack ideas. So, make sure to read both posts to know all details.
Before talking more about “healthy snacking”, it is very important to understand important nutrients for kid’s growth and proper development.
Here are some essential nutrients that play a major role in proper growth and development of kids.
Important nutrients for proper growth and development of kids!
Protein
Protein is one of the most essential nutrients that helps in building muscles in kids. At growing age, it is very important that kids get enough protein through their meal. Some of the common sources of protein are pulses, cottage cheese (panner), milk, tofu (soya paneer) beans and lean meat. Adding enough protein helps in building muscular strength in kids. Protein also helps in growth, repair and maintenance of the body.
Carbohydrate
Carbohydrate is main source of energy. During growing age, it is very important that kids get enough carbohydrate for fueling up energy. Complex carbohydrate is healthier than simple carbohydrate. Complex carb helps in slow energy release and did not cause sudden sugar spike. Oats, barley and other whole grains are some of the good options of complex carbohydrate.
Though Starchy and sugar rich food are high in carbohydrate but they should be avoided as they did not offer any nutritional benefits for kid’s growth and development.
Fat
In general, fat may be considered as “Not so healthy” option but for growing kids, small amount of fat is one of the essential nutrients. Nuts, seeds, ghee (clarified butter), avocado are some of the important sources of healthy fat.
Calcium
Calcium is another important essential nutrient for kids. It is essential for proper growth and development of teeth and bones. Calcium also helps in proper functioning of nerve and muscles. And keep our heart healthy too. Some good sources of calcium are milk, yogurt and cheese.
Iron
Iron is next important essential nutrient for carrying enough oxygen to different parts of body. Iron deficiency is one of the commonly observed deficiency in kids that results in “Iron deficiency anemia”. Some of the good sources of iron are green leafy vegetables (like spinach), beetroot, legumes, vitamin C rich foods and whole grain.
Vitamins (Vitamin A, Vitamin D, and Vitamin C and Vitamin B complex)
Vitamins are another essential nutrient that help in proper growth and development of different body parts. And also perform other important functions too. Vitamin A is needed for good eyesight and healthy skin and vitamin D is essential for proper bone and teeth development. Vitamin C helps in building immunity and vitamin B complex is essential for function of various important system of body.
Minerals
Minerals are micro nutrients. They also essential for proper functioning of bones, muscles, brain and heart. Also, play an important role in making enzymes and hormones. Fruits, vegetables, milk and dairy products, nuts and whole grains are good sources of minerals.
“Nutrition” is one of the important aspects of growing age children. It is very important that kids get all “essential nutrients” in their routine diet, including both main meal and snacks.
Nowadays, many kids are picky eater and have deficiency of “essential nutrients” in their routine diet. This thing often creates a problem for parents to feed their kids healthy and Nutrional meal.
Tips for parents to set a “healthy snacking “routine for kids!
Here are some tips and guidelines for parents to make “Snack timing” as “healthy snack timing”.
Learn and teach “healthy shopping skills” to your kids
“Healthy shopping” is base for creating healthy eating atmosphere at home. Though, it is very tempting to buy various attractive looking readymade snack options while shopping but most of these snacks contain unhealthy ingredients and loaded with sugar too.
It is very important to shop healthy stuff (fruits, vegetables and whole grain products) to keep your pantry ready with healthier snack options. While shopping, talk to your kids about why shopping healthy stuff is important and how this “healthy shopping” will help them to eat healthy and making smart choices?
Read the label
This is second most important aspect of healthy shopping skill. Reading the labels help in knowing the nutritional value, calories, sugar addition and inclusion of all other essential nutrients. Try to go for “Low sugar” and “No sugar added” options. Ask your kids to read labels and teach them importance of reading the labels. Though do not trust on labels blindly. Many times, sugar free and cholesterol free claim products contain unhealthy ingredients in hidden form.
Pay attention on serving size
This is another important aspect that often get overlooked. Along with selecting right product, it is equally important to learn about the serving size. Eating right food in right proportion is one of the most important steps that could make major difference in your family’s everyday nutrition.
Involve your kids in cooking process
Kids learn fast, when we teach them something practically. Involving your kids in cooking is best way to teach them importance of healthy nutrition for our body. You can explore new healthy snack recipes online and can make it together as a “Family”. Making cooking process fun is a best way to add healthier ingredients in your family’s meal. With some training, kids can make their own simple snacks with no fire cooking method.
Keep healthy options (fruits, vegetables) handy
It has been said that “you eat, what you see”. In simple words, we tend to eat those food or snacks more that is easily visible and convenient to reach. so, put some efforts in that direction and try to keep healthy snacking options handy and easily approachable.
As an additional step, you can do a little pre-preparation during weekend. Cut the vegetables sticks and store them in an air-tight container in fridge and serve them with healthy dips like hummus during busy weekdays.
Keeping healthy options handy work great in improving your family’s healthy eating habits and helps in boosting specific type of food in your daily diet.
Be creative and make food visually appealing
This is another good way to make snack time much healthier. You can try easy food art with fruits and vegetables with your kids. Kids love food art and will eat fruits and vegetables more with this creative technique.
Additionally, you can use beautiful shaped cookie cutters (heart or star shaped) to make healthy cookies and whole grain cracker at home. these simple changes make food visually attractive and kids will eat them by making it their own choices.
So, with these tips I am ending the first part of post “A smart mom’s guide to healthy snacking for kids”. In second part, I am sharing many amazing homemade healthy snack options for kids? Stay tuned, I am sure this post will help in making smart and right snack choices for your family.
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32 Comments
energeticreads
I felt so good while reading this amazing post. I have seen many people eliminating carbs or fats from the diet, and this is not the way. It is important to teach this to kids so they can cultivate healthy habits. I am glad that you focused on all small details and nutritional requirements.
Rupsbooklove
Such a lovely post. I liked the way you have supported your blog with the research and numbers. The details mentioned here not only shows some healthy food options but also the important nutrients. I loved the blog.
Alpana Deo
Healthy eating starts with making healthy shopping choices. How can we expect our kids to pick something healthy when they see the big bag of chips permanently sitting in the pantry shelf at a reachable distance. When we involve them in the cooing process, and also give them tasty options at home, they can be convinced to some extent that snacking need not always have to be junk.
Charu
I always read the labels. That’s such an important step. Thank you for this detailed and informative blog post. Very helpful, as always.
Parul
It’s such an informal and amazing post. Parents have to understand the difference between their body & it’s requirements and that of the kids. I see many people cutting on carbs and fats for the kids, just like they do it for themselves. It’s important to understand that a growing body needs are different than yours. I’m glad that your post is educating parents about this.
Imagemakeover
Your posts always brings smile on my face. Such appealing pictures with great insights. Yes healthy eating habits are very important to inculcate in kids right from the beginning and your tips like involving them in shopping, making food look appealing and small portions are some great suggestions.
Diya
Yeahh it’s really right. You are amazing post and well writing article. I know about A Smart Mom’s guide to healthy snacking for kids. Kids must be healthy and good life. Kids don’t should juck food. Mom make to cook give kids eat healthy. Thanks for informing and sharing
mummatalks
Healthy eating habits when started frm an early age can work well as kids grow. Also like u said reading labels before you buy food is very imp. I stopped nutella cream/spread for My kids after I read its high on palm oil.
Preeti Chauhan
This post is such a life saver with such great ideas for kids’ snacks. Snacking is very important as kids have small stomachs that fill up fast and need to have small frequent meals that meet their nutritional needs too !
Ruchie
I totally agree with you Surbhi, good eating habits are really important and with kids we need to be little experimental!! Thanks for sharing these tips and tricks for healthy snacks !!
Varsh
As a mom who insists on healthy eating, snacking right is important for me. These are some really good pointers. Including them in the process makes a lot of difference and makes them health conscious too.
simi sp
It’s really important to cut the carb for kids and focus on healthy stuff this is a amazing post and recipe looks healthy definitely will be trying out to this weekend… Thank you for sharing
CREATIVE LIFE STAR
Parents have to understand the difference between their body & it’s requirements and that of the kids.Cultivating healthy eating habits from a young age does help kids in the long run.
Hema Dadhwal
Healthy eating starts with making healthy shopping choices, How can we expect our kids to pick something healthy when they see us making unhealthy choices . Very good and valuable blog . Thanks
TripleAmommy
Thanks for a great post. All good ideas. I also keep emphasizing the various components of food and how kids should balance. Luckily as a family we are not much into chips etc. But I still struggle with getting enough fruits in them! Look forward to the second part.
Gleefulblogger
I always considered snacking as a main part of our daily nutrition, a right pick can make you healthy and a wrong habit would do adverse. This post clearly guides us to have the healthier path by taking right tips.
Priyal
These are the same good tips which we should follow in our daily lives. And I am glad that my kids started helping me in the time cooking. A healthy diet is very important for kids
Mayuri Nidigallu
Snacks are culprits of a diet. We rarely pay heed to them, as much as we do to meals. Glad you wrote this helpful and detailed post, Surbhi. A helpful one for Moms.
myworldwitheira
This is such a well versed blog Surbhi and including healthy fats and carbs is also very important. Cultivating healthy eating habits from a young age does help kids in the long run.
The Champa Tree
After the pandemic actually the healthy feeding has gone for a toss it seems. Your post is indeed a reminder. The tiops you have given are indeed helpful.
rakhiparsai11984
This is a much needed post for me Surbhi. I have been contemplating for the long time to look deeper into what’s going in my kids tummy. Basically wanted healthy snacking thing to happen in our house too. I am sure gonna follow these things that you have ,mentioned in the post.
The Other Brain Inc.
Healthy snacking is very important indeed as kids tend to fill their tummy with junk otherwise. I try to make some of my son’s favorite outside food at home in a healthier manner.
Snehalata Jain
Amazing post! Healthy snacks is always better than the junk food. The post definitely help me to engage the kids in food processing and provide them healthy food.
Sandy N Vyjay
Snacking frequently is a characteristic of growing up children. It is for the parents to ensure that they snack healthy.This is a very important guide that is sure to help parents ensure that their kids are snacking healthy.
indiacafe24.com
I am happy to see a mother like you who remains so conscious towards kids diet . But I dont know why many are still not and the way they give maggi, oily paratha , spicy food and Oh yes in a week at least 2 times burger or Pizza I really feel bad. Taste bud satisfaction for kids matters them more than healthy food
Hema
I got to totally agree with each and every pointers shared by you . Healthy shopping list is what we follow , I have encouraged my daughter to eat healthy snacks from day 1
Jeannine
Such a great read! With busy lives of moms and seemingly unending appetite of kids, it’s very easy to just resort to easily bought snacks to keep them full and occupied. This is when we hold our guards and don’t realise much what diet habits we’re letting our kids grow-up with. We tend to focus much on healthy meals not realising that snacking is much more done all day long. Thanks for this article. It’s such a great eye-opener and reminder on what I’ve been missing to do.
MeenalSonal Mathur
Shopping healthy is the first step and stacking pantry with healthy options is so important. Liked your well researched post that will make me more inclined towards healthy snacking .
Moumita Jana
Yiur all points are practical and applicable for anyone… snacking is the main thing where most people go wrong and keeping routine can is always function smooth.
Dr Bushra Allaboutthewoman
That’s very helpful tips to plan a well balanced nutrition rich diet for the kids especially for picky eaters. Absolutely food should look appealing
Snigdha
This is a very helpful post, a well planned balanced nutrition rich diet for kids. Healthy snacks should be a habit for kids.
Heena Dhedhi
I’m a very vigilant about what my kids eat, and so I’m abreast with all the required information… however this detail coming from another mom is validity too.