5 Snack Ideas for Preschoolers

Submitted by Pregnancy and Baby Care team on April 26, 2012

It can get upsetting to see your child wanting to munch on something every few hours during the day. Children spend lots of energy throughout the day doing various activities like playing, running, dancing and so on. Along with this there is also immense growth and development taking place within the body that uses up most of the child’s energy. It is therefore normal for the child to feel hungry every few hours during the day. Frequent snacking though not bad can cause other problems if not guided in the right manner. Snacks for preschoolers should not be considered a treat full of empty calories.

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Instead, a fun snack idea should be nutritionally rich as well as tasty, something that the child would enjoy eating. Do not keep cookies, chips, candy, chocolates and soda pop around the house. Instead be creative and learn to make snacks that are wholesome and tasty, something that will have your child clamoring for more.


Here are 5 snack recipes for preschoolers that are healthy as well as tasty:

  • Pizza – Who says a pizza cannot be made healthy? Use a whole pita or a tortilla as the pizza crust. Add a dollop of tomato sauce and sprinkle some low-fat mozzarella cheese on it. Top it up with some chopped vegetables or baked beans and some lean meat like chicken or turkey. Heat it for a few minutes in the microwave. Cut it into triangles for added effect and serve.
  • Frozen snacks do not have to be limited to ice cream and popsicles! Frozen grapes are sweet and cool and come with plenty of fiber and vitamins. You can freeze peeled bananas, add some honey or maple syrup and chopped nuts to make a delicious cooling treat. Insert a stick into one end of the banana and serve it as a yummy iced fruit Popsicle. Milkshakes are another option that makes use of frozen fruit, milk, yogurt and ice.
  • Kids love a good dip! Low fat ranch dressing, bean dip, hummus as also salsa all make excellent dips. A bag of cucumber, celery sticks, carrots and cherry tomatoes will go down that much faster if accompanied by a tasty dip. Pita triangles, whole wheat crackers, or tortilla chips that are baked go well with dips and make a perfectly nutritious snack for your child.
  • A sweet creamy dip brings a new dimension to fruits as well! Flavored yogurt, low-fat sour cream sweetened with honey and applesauce, all make good dips for fruits.
  • Veggies can be a treat! Try filling some celery sticks using low-fat cream cheese or ricotta and use it with some peanut butter that has low salts. Corn on the cob goes better with some ranch dressing to accompany it. You can even spice it up by squeezing a lemon over it. Bake some potato in an oven and cut it into pieces. Serve it in a cup with some low fat sour cream or salsa. It makes a much healthier alternative to fried chips.
  • Some hot and spiced up snack ideas would include pinwheels, which are baked scone dough that are fillings of tomato or low fat cheese. Hot savory muffins and scones are another good option.

To make a healthy snack that your child will love, all you have to do is follow a few simple rules.

  • Avoid frying while making hot snacks. Baking is a healthier alternative.
  • Use the low fat or fat free alternative when using dairy products or salad dressings.
  • Use honey or maple syrup as a healthier sweetening agent.
  • Use fresh fruit wherever possible. Fresh fruit is rich in fiber and vitamins and has natural sugar that will help replenish your child’s energy levels.
  • Use healthy ingredients in your snacks like whole grain bread, vegetables, cereals, nuts and dairy products.
  • Cutting bread and tortillas into different shapes will make eating them a lot more fun.
  • Try arranging fruit or crackers into interesting shapes on the plate.

You could check out a number of other ways to prepare healthy but delicious snacks for preschooler. There are just a few pointers to be kept in mind. You could also check with your dietician or doctor on what foods you can include to keep the snack healthy.

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