If you are a health-conscious parent, then you face a daunting task this time of year. You could go all natural and fill your children’s lunch boxes exclusively with fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts, but the likelihood that they would happily devour the healthy goods you packed for them is slim.
Your other options include making your own tasty and nutritious snacks or packing “healthier” store-bought options, like the ones listed below:
Snikiddy Chocolate Chippers Cookies: The sweet treats contain less sugar than other cookies on the market. They also come in portion-controlled packets, and kids who tested them high marks.
Quaker Simple Harvest Chewy Granola Bars: Unlike most granola bars, these chewy bars are made with whole grain and contain no corn syrup. Kids who tested them said they liked them because they were sweet and looked like candy bars.
Aunt Trudy’s Fillo Pocket Sandwiches: These microwavable frozen pocket sandwiches are a great lunch box addition or a healthy after school snack. Choices include tomato and cheese or spinach and feta. The ingredients feature calcium, protein and vitamins.
Other healthy lunch box additions include:
Mini sandwiches made from whole grain crackers or pumpernickel cocktail breads stacked with ham and cheese or turkey and hummus.
Whole-wheat tortillas spread with peanut butter and sprinkled with raisins or dried cherries, rolled up and cut in half.
Fruit kabobs made with assorted colors, such as melon balls, apples, bananas, grapes or strawberries on a bamboo skewer, served with yogurt for dipping.
HOMEMADE GRANOLA BALLS
Ingredients:
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup of your favorite trail mix
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Spread the oats and coconut on a cookie sheet. Place in the oven and toast for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned.
Meanwhile, combine the peanut butter, honey and brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the brown sugar has completely dissolved, stirring continuously.
Add the toasted oats and coconut to the peanut butter mixture along with the trail mix and stir to combine.
Cool for 10 minutes.
Working with dampened hands, shape into 12 one-inch balls and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
Photo Credit: allourparents.com
Related Articles:
Healthy Lunchbox Treats for Kids
Nutritious Back-to-School Treats
Tips for Livening up Your Kid’s School Lunch