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Healthy after-school snacks for your child

Team AckoFeb 8, 2024

What do you serve to your kids when they come home after school? That’s one question that most certainly bugs all Indian moms! Snacks can often be a big part of your child's diet, so it is important that most of the snacks you give to your child are ones you feel good about.

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Offering a broad variety of food helps the little ones get the vitamins and minerals they need. Choose whole-grain bread and cereals and you can prepare various nutritious snacks for your kiddo.

So, what is a healthy snack?

No doubt, fruits, and raw vegetables are by far the most nutritious, healthy, and natural kind of snack a child should be eating. Here are some good examples of healthy after-school snacks for your little one:

1. Smoothies

Smoothies are a great way to pack the goodness of fruits and veggies in one single thing. Kids go crazy over these delicious sippable treats and they are packed with nutrients. You can use vanilla yogurt, orange juice, dairy milk, or a banana as the smoothie's base. Then experiment with a combination of cut-up fresh or frozen fruits. It is a great way to serve fruits, calcium, protein, and fiber into your child's diet.

2. Ice Pops

Ice pops couldn't be easier or versatile to whip up! And when you make them yourself, you control exactly what goes in them. These frozen pops are a wonderful way to add vitamin C and calcium to your child’s diet.

3. Fruits and vegetables

Simply cut fruits like apples, pineapple, pear, tangerine, kiwi, and strawberries. Mix them all in a bowl with a hint of a dash and serve fresh to your kiddo. Cut vegetables like carrots, celery, cucumber, small corn on the cob, red and yellow peppers and serve to him in a colorful bowl. Add black pepper and lemon to make it a little tangy. You can also serve cracker (any biscuit) pizza with a topping of fresh fruits dipped in hung curd.

4. Yogurt

Low-fat yogurt is an excellent source of calcium, and children love it dressed up. Your kiddo would love it too! Just to add some more yumminess and nutrition to this, you can whip up a delicious yogurt parfait using berries and granola. You would end up making a mouth-watering homemade fruity yogurt pop that would any day beat the frozen yogurts available at stores!

5. Popcorn

Popcorn is an all-time favorite snack of kids and the good news is that it is healthy as well! It’s filling and has a good amount of fiber content. Besides, it is totally versatile, so you can deck it up with some butter or choose, or simply some caramels, and your kiddo would love it!

6. Drinks

Water is the most important and nutritious drink your child could have. Encourage him to drink water before anything else. You can offer your kiddo freshly squeezed fruit juices, which will not take much of your time.

Grandma’s Tip: Buttermilk is the best option during summers. If you are serving juices and buttermilk bought from market then read labels and make sure that nothing is added.

7. Cheese

Cheese is super-flavorful and satisfying and gives your kid the much-needed protein and calcium. The key here is making sure it's not in every meal and snack. A cheese stick paired with apple slices or carrot sticks (or whatever fruits and vegetables your kid likes) is the ideal power snack. Even grilled cheese can be a good choice when you use 100-percent whole-grain bread and add in sliced apples for extra fiber.

8. Chocolate-dipped foods

If you want to make fruit and nuts extra appealing for your kiddo, then just dip them in chocolate. It’s yummy, healthy, and filling too!

9. Dried fruits

Dried fruits are rich in glucose and minerals and are an excellent source of instant energy. Kids mainly love dried fruits for their naturally sweet taste and texture too. It is an appropriate morning snack for children when they need the maximum energy for the day ahead, which includes their school, homework, playtime, and so much more.

10. Bread and cereals

These snacks have high fiber content and are rich in micronutrients. Examples of this snack idea are whole grain bread, whole grain biscuits, and crackers. Dry cereals made from whole grains, cereals, and crispies made from rice, etc. are also filling and healthy!

11. Colorful salad

A colorful salad is a perfect idea for a healthy salad with a dash of lemon juice for a delightful tanginess. Make the salad by adding corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, fresh coriander, or any other veggies, which your kiddo likes.

12. Fruit puree with crackers

This is simple, easy, and super tasty for your kiddo! All you need to do is blend fruits like pears, blueberries, strawberries, and spread the whole puree on crackers. Boom! The snack is ready to be devoured by your kiddo!

13. Fruit Toast

If there’s one thing that goes perfectly with fruit purees and fruit toppings, it’s a toast! Blend fruits like sliced strawberries, blueberries, apples together. Add some water so that it now becomes a thick puree. Take a couple of bread slices and toast them. Now apply the fruit puree spread on them like jam spread. Place these in the freezer for a few hours, and there you have it! Yummy Fruit Toast is ready!

14. Dried fruits and cereal mix

Thinking of instant healthy snacks for kids? Think dried fruits and cereal mix! Add dried fruits and basic cereal in a large bowl. Mix them both thoroughly. That’s it! This easy-to-make snack is ready!

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Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only, based on industry experience and secondary sources. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified expert for health or insurance-related decisions. Content is subject to change, refer to current policy wordings for specific ACKO details.

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