Healthy snacks

Need some ideas for some healthy snacks, other than normal fruit or how i can sneak some fruit into things!!!

dired fruit seems the obvoius answer, or if you like to bake, make some cakes of flapjacks/biscuits with fruit in them - even get the kids to help!! also now the weather is getting nicer (some days!) freeze fresh fruit juice into those ice lolly maker things, for fresh fruit lollies!! also smoothies are a good way to get kids to ''eat'' fruit, and again the kids can help to make them!

Fab idea's. U could also put fruit in to yoghurts x

Try blending the fruit and making smoothies...maybe stick some ice cream in it too to make it more appealing to the kids

x

Got an email this morning with these healthy tips and thought i'd share them wth you....


Tummy fillers
Growing kids need plenty of starchy foods to fill them up and give them energy. Nutritious meals packed with fibre, protein, carboyhydrate and vitamins will also help your child's growing bones and give them a healthy does of brain power for the afternoon ahead.

These along with fruit and/or vegetables should form the main part of your child's lunch. Try some of these ideas:-


Sandwiches and wraps

Sliced or homemade bread - vary between wholemeal, granary, multi-grain and white.
Bread roll, pitta bread, naan, chapatti, bagel, tortilla/wrap, croissant, oatcake, crepe/pancake, potato cake, malt loaf, hot cross bun, scone.
Fillings/toppings

Meat - wafer thin cooked meats with cucumber, salad, coleslaw etc, cubed chicken/turkey breast with tomato and lettuce, ham and cheese, roast chicken & hummus, leftover cold meats (chicken, turkey, meatloaf, sausages etc) with salad, chicken and mashed avocado, cold BLT.


Fish - tuna mayo & sweetcorn, tuna salad, sardine and tomato, fish paste and cucumber.


Veggie - grated/sliced cheese with pickle, cucumber, salad, coleslaw etc, cheese spread, cream cheese, Quorn slices with salad, cottage cheese with pineapple, grated cheese and carrot mixed with a little mayo, veggie sausages, vegetarian pate with cucumber, egg salad/egg mayo.
Sweet - High-fruit jam/fruit spread, chocolate spread*, honey, treacle, lemon curd.

Other ideas

Baked items such as savoury muffin, cheesy corn triangles, pizza slice mini pasty, cheese and potato roll, samosa, pakora, spring roll etc.
Carbohydrate based salads such as pasta salad, rice salad, cous cous, potato salad, tabbouleh etc.
Egg based foods such as quiche, mini quiche or frittata.

Good for growing bones

Fruit yogurt, fromage frais or dairy-free alternative.
Cold rice pudding or custard.
Greek/plain yogurt.
Cubes of cheese or pre-packed lunchbox sized cheese portion, cottage cheese with pineapple.
Dips: hummus, tzatziki, raita, cream cheese and plain yogurt.

Five-a-day options

Any combination of the following, in a small pot or bag: raisins, sultanas, pumpkin/sunflower seeds, ready to eat dried apricots, dates or prunes.
Whole fruits - satsuma, apple, banana, pear, peach, plum, grapes, strawberries (whatever is in season)
Fruit salad pot - any combination of prepared fruit: strawberries, orange, melon, mango, pineapple, kiwi etc.
Homemade fruit puree, smoothie or apple sauce (you can add strawberry, peach, etc to it)
Fruit jelly made with fruit pieces and pure fruit juice.
Tinned fruit pot (useful in the winter if you can't find ripe fresh fruit) - mandarins, pineapple, peaches, fruit salad, pears.
Salad pot - any combination of prepared raw vegetables: cucumber, lettuce, pepper, celery, cherry tomatoes, carrot sticks, mangetout, slices of avocado sprinkled with a little lemon juice etc. or coleslaw.

Top tips

Buy some small lidded (watertight!) pots, the ones you can buy to freeze baby food in are an ideal size for a portion of fruit, salad or dip.
If you put a pure fruit juice drink and another fruit or vegetable option in your child's lunchbox, your child will get 2 of their recommended 5-a-day.
Even fussy eaters should be given a variety of different foods in their lunchbox (plus a couple of favourites so you know they won't go hungry). They're more likely to eat new foods when mum's not watching and when they are surrounded by other children eating.
Use leftovers - if they liked it the night before, odds are, they'll love it next day cold - really!
Remember to pack a teaspoon if you send a yogurt, fromage frais or jelly!
Put a sheet of kitchen roll in, to wipe sticky fingers and mop up any spills.
Remember to label your child's lunchbox...half the class might have the same design!
Fillings for wraps can be put into a separate little container or resealable bag to stop the bread going soggy.
Fill a tortilla or chapatti with a variety of toppings, roll and and wrap tightly in cling film or foil.
"Cling film is banned in some schools now due to being a chocking hazard." Michelle.

To keep food cold in summer either use a refreezable ice pack, or freeze a bottle of water (remember not to overfill). You can also freeze tubes of fromage frais over night and pop them in their lunchbox in the morning.
Make lunches the night before and keep them in the fridge. It saves that last minute panic in the morning.

Thirst-quenchers

Steer clear of sugary drinks and go for one of these healthy options:-
Water
Milk (whole, semi-skimmed, goats or soya)
Milkshake
Pure fruit juice or smoothie - preferably diluted.
Well diluted high-juice squash (a note about sugar free options)
A note about sugar free options

Sugar can be hard to spot in children's food, as it's called many different things. All the following are forms of sugar, which is only needed in small amounts and offers your child little, except empty calories: sucrose, glucose, fructose, maltose, dextrose, fruit syrup, molasses.

Look for 'no added sugar' on the packet. If you can't see that on a label then read the Nutritional Information panel and look under 'Carbohydrates - of which Sugar'.

But do be aware that products stating 'no added sugar' normally use chemical sweeteners, some of which are being investigated for safety.

Milkshake has lots of sugar in it

depends on how you make it, if you make it with fresh fruit and semi-skimmed milk then it doesn't have that much sugar......

thats put me in my place!

No sarah i didn't mean it like that hun......xxxx

Thanks for all that Lesley.

yeah I know

oh i am so pleased i thought you thought i was being mean....xxx

lots of good ideas there for healthy snacks x