Naina

As a mother, I am always looking for options for healthy snacks for kids. In today’s times, children are so busy juggling between school and music lessons, tuition, badminton class, guitar class, football, basketball, playdates, robotics, and whatnot. With increasing pressure and the need to stay energetic, they need a balanced diet and healthy meal options that are easy to procure, carry, and consume.

Like all parents, I was super concerned about the nutrition needs of my children. Junk food was like an eternal enemy that we as supermoms were trying to defeat with our indigenous recipes and tricks. While all meals are equally important, today I want to emphasize on the evening snack as it plays an important role in keeping the energy levels high without impacting the overall health.

Sharing my list of tasty, nutritious and non-messy food options for little ones –

 First and foremost,Fruits. Yes! The humble banana or the juicy apple is the easiest and best to-go snack for your child. Dish out a colorful fruit chat with a pinch of chat masala or black salt. Since every colored fruit comes with unique nutritional value, it is good to include at least 2-3 different colors in your chat or salad. Also, opt for local and seasonal fruits rather than spending that extra effort and money buying exotic fruits. When in a hurry, just pack the whole fruit or hand over a bottle of Juice. 

Dry-fruit Balls: Nuts are an excellent source of healthy fats, protein, and fiber. Create small laddoos or balls of popular dry fruits like  Almonds, cashews, dates, and peanuts and offer them as an evening snack. You can add some dark chocolate chips or grated coconut for a delicious twist. Nut Balls are super easy to make and easy to carry just like a protein bar.

Lettuce Avocado Sandwich: Let your child make their own sandwich with a healthy yet delicious guacamole sauce or hummus. Hummus, made from chickpeas and sesame is loaded with Proteins and avocado is a rich source of antioxidants. Top it with fresh veggies of their choice such as lettuce, cucumber, olives, tomatoes, rocket leaves, etc.

Yogurt Dip with Baked Chips: Yogurt is an excellent source of protein and calcium, which are essential for a child’s growth and development. Make a simple dip with hung curd and coriander/ mint and serve with baked or air-fried chips. You can even substitute potato chips with apple chips, banana chips or fresh vegetable sticks (carrot/celery/capsicum).

Palak Idlis: Idlis are a popular breakfast food in India, but they also make a great snack option. They are made from fermented rice and lentil batter, which makes them a good source of protein and fiber. Add some fresh palak (chopped or pureed) to make them crunchy and healthier You can serve them with coconut chutney, Podi idli powder or white butter for added flavor. When palak is not in season, use beetroot for those bright red healthy bites. 

Dal Dhokla: Steamed dhokla is a great source of protein and fiber and is also low in calories. Make them at home with soaked Moong , Urad or Chana dal for that extra dash of protein. You can serve dhokla with homemade tomato chutney , coriander chutney or even guava chutney for added flavor.

Popcorn: Popcorn is a healthy and low-calorie snack option that all kids love. You can make popcorn at home or buy pre-packaged bags that are free from added sugars and chemicals. Avoid caramel popcorn as they are loaded with sugar. Convenient to make and pack in a box for snack break.

Healthy Trail Mix –  We all love to munch on a tasty trail mix or a namkeen. Trail mixes are easy to make and prepared upfront and a healthy trail mix can be a boon to working parents. Some of my favorite options are Oats Chivda Mixture , Roasted Chana Mixture, Roasted Makhana, Nutty trail Mix. You can make them at home or buy pre-packaged from the store.  Just ensure they are roasted/air fried and not deep fried.

Millet Cookies – Millet cookies are a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional cookies. Millet is a gluten-free grain full of nutrition and health benefits. It is a great source of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and has a mild, nutty flavor. You can keep a variety of them handy for the times when cooking a snack is not possible. I would recommend using the ones with jaggery rather than processed sugar.

                           As a parent, it can be challenging to find healthy snack options that your kids will enjoy. With so many processed and sugary snacks readily available, it’s important to offer your kids nutritious options that can help support their growth and development. We need to be aware that the preparations are done using the right oil (Cold pressed oils are a great choice), the right method (Roasted/Steamed/Air Fried), and the right ingredients(Unprocessed /Natural). With a little effort and careful planning, many healthy snack options can be explored that are not only delicious but also packed with essential nutrients. 

                                     By offering your child nutritious snacks, you can help support their growth and development while also teaching them healthy eating habits. Remember to offer a variety of foods and flavors to keep your child interested and engaged in healthy snacking.