Trying to find time to feed the kids healthy snacks is tough. Then when you consider that many kids are fussy eaters, the challenge of tasty and healthy snacks becomes more challenging. As a single parent, you want to make sure your child has good food to snack on after school, on a Saturday afternoon, or in the lunchbox. We have provided you with some delicious foods that not only taste good, but also are fun.
Bugs on a Log
For this recipe, all you need is celery sticks, peanut butter (crunchy or creamy), and raisins. If your child does not like peanut butter or, has allergies to peanuts, you can substitute cream cheese. After carefully washing and drying the celery sticks, cut them into four-inch long pieces. Spread the peanut butter of cream cheese onto the indention of the celery stick. Then, press raisin onto top, which are the bugs. Kids love this snack and it is fast and easy to make.
Iced Pumpkin Bars
Another great recipe is the Iced Pumpkin Bars, which are great for kids who take lunch to school. This way, you are providing your child with a delicious dessert item but one that is healthy. You can also make these around the holidays or give them out at your child’s Halloween party. For this recipe, you need a 16-ounce can of pumpkin, 2 cups flour, 2 cups light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 4 eggs, and 2 sticks of softened butter.
Then to make the icing, you will need 1 stick of softened butter, 3 ounces of softened cream cheese, 1 pound of powdered sugar, and 2 teaspoons vanilla. For the pumpkin bars, you would simply mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Then divide the batter into two, well-greased 13×9-inch baking dishes. Bake the pumpkin bars for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Let the pumpkin mix cool and then cut into equal size bars. For the icing, mix everything in a bowl. Spread onto the cooled bars, and refrigerate!
Maple Fruit Dip
Finally, Maple Fruit Dip is delicious with your child’s favorite fruit such as oranges, apples, pears, strawberries, bananas, kiwi, and pineapple. This recipe calls for 1/2 cup of low-fat vanilla yogurt, 1/2 cup of low-fat whipped topping, 4 teaspoons reduced calorie maple syrup, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and a dash of nutmeg. Mix all the ingredients into a bowl or use a blender to mix. Then, cover the dip and let it refrigerate for a couple of hours. Cut fruit into bite-size pieces and watch your kids enjoy (adults too).
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