HOLIDAY BREAK SNACK IDEAS FOR KIDS AND TEENS

Holiday break is an exciting time for kids! No school, no schedule, no cafeteria… Aside from pre-packaged snacks and leftover holiday treats, what sort of healthy options are available? What can be prepared ahead of time?
Whether your child is lazing around all day, playing in the snow, or traveling over the river and through the woods, having easy-to-grab healthy snacks makes life easier for everyone!

HEALTHY KIDS SNACKS FOR THE MORNING

Skipping morning fuel can lead to tiredness, irritability, and decreased energy for kids. The best way to keep their brains and bodies sharp is to ensure they get enough to eat in the morning.
Here are a few helpful morning snacks:

Homemade Yogurt

Whip up some delicious homemade yogurt with only a couple of ingredients and a few minutes! All you need is a heavy pot with a lid, milk, and plain yogurt with live bacteria cultures. Once you create the first batch of yogurt, you can use it as the starter yogurt for your next batch! A recipe to enjoy working on with your kids plus peace of mind knowing just what’s in it.

• Heat up the milk in your heavy pot on medium heat and stir until it simmers.
• Allow the milk to cool down.
• Add the yogurt and whisk it in.
• Close the lid and allow it to incubate for 8-10 hours.
• After the yogurt has been set, transfer it to the refrigerator and use it for up to 7 days.

To make this snack even tastier and heartier, try adding:

• Cut fruit
• Granola
• A drizzle of honey
• Chia seeds

Overnight Oats

With a few minutes of prep, you can create a transportable, filling snack for teens. This no-cook method of making apple cinnamon overnight oats is perfect for meal-prepping healthy snacks for kids.

• Combine equal parts of old-fashioned oats and milk in a mason jar. For additional fiber, add ⅛ part chia seeds as well.
• Add a scoop of yogurt (Greek yogurt for more protein) and vanilla extract.

• Stir the mixture together until it’s free of clumps.
• Seal the mason jar and place it in the refrigerator overnight (or for two hours minimum).
• In the morning, add toppings of choice, like nuts, chopped fruit, chocolate chips, etc.
• Grab and go!

A few other quick ideas for morning snacks include:

• Egg bites
• Fruit skewers with yogurt dip
• Applesauce and homemade muffins
• Banana and graham crackers

HEALTHY SNACKS FOR KIDS

Help kids refuel after a morning of play with these healthy options:

No-Bake Protein Bites

They may taste like a dessert, but no-bake protein bites are packed with protein from peanut butter and fiber from chia seeds. They’re easy to customize based on your child’s preferences, but the basic steps include:

• Combine peanut butter, chia seeds, and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl.
• Grind the nuts of your choice in a food processor and add them to the mixture.

• Fold in some chocolate chips.
• Allow the mixture to cool in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. Then roll into bite-sized balls.
• Store in an airtight container.

Make this a nut-free snack by using sunflower butter and swap out the nuts for dried fruit, crushes pretzels, or another topping of your choice!
Some other quick ideas for snack-time include:

• Fruit, cheese, and cracker pack.
• Trail mix
• Granola bars
• Popcorn

Baked Apple Chips

This one-ingredient simple snack is tasty and crunchy, perfect for kids of all ages. Unlike most chips and crackers, there’s no added sugar! And it goes right along with the winter theme… leaving your house warm and smelling delicious!

• Line a ½ pan baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat your oven to 200 F.
• Then slice your apples into thin slices, roughly ⅛ inch thick. Using a mandolin is ideal, but a sharp knife also works.
• Line the baking pan with the thin apple slices.
• Sprinkle on cinnamon for extra taste.

• Bake for 1 hour.
• Flip the slices over and bake for another 1.5 hours. If needed, bake for additional 10–15-minute increments until crispy.

Hummus and Crackers with Vegetables

Made from tahini and chickpeas, hummus is rich in protein, fiber, and healthy fats. It can also make vegetables a lot more tolerable for kids. If yours simply refuse to pair it with vegetables, try pretzels or whole-grain crackers instead.
There are plenty of store-bought hummus options, but it’s also quick and easy to make.

• Soak your chickpeas (garbanzo beans).
• Drain the chickpeas and put them in a heavy cooking pot. Cover with 2 inches of water and simmer for 1.5-2 hours.
• If you use canned chickpeas, simmer for 20 minutes in water to soften more.
• Peel the chickpeas by rubbing them under running water.
• Once they cool, puree the chickpeas using a food processor.

• While the food processor is running, add the rest of the ingredients including tahini, salt, and lemon juice.
• Blend for about 4 minutes. Add a dash of hot water if the hummus is too thick.
• Refrigerate and serve!

Serve with your choice of carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, whole-grain crackers, or pretzels!

Smoothie Cubes

Smoothies are a great way to get kids to eat a ton of fruits and veggies in a tasty way. Of course, blenders can be dangerous for young kids (and “too much work” for teens). Prep smoothies for winter break with smoothie cubes.
All you need to do is make the smoothie of your choice ahead of time. Then, pour it into an ice cube tray. When the time comes to make the smoothie, add the concentrated cubes to the liquid of your choice.
Ideas of what to include in your smoothie are:

• Strawberries
• Blueberries

• Pineapple
• Spinach
• Flax seeds
• Avocado
• Yogurt

Add the minimum amount of liquid to create the smoothie, as you want the cubes to be more concentrated.
Other kid-friendly snack ideas include:

• Peanut butter and jelly toast
• Pretzels or whole-wheat crackers and cheese sticks
• Fruit salad

• Rice cakes with nut butter
• Banana and nut butter

HAPPY SNACKING!

There are plenty of holiday snack ideas to try out this season! These snacks can help ensure kids and teens get enough nutrients to power through all the hustle and bustle. Try out some of these healthy kids’ snacks today!