I have some hungry little snackers at my house. They are so interested in anything that goes on in the kitchen and they really want to be a part of anything that has to do with food. They want to help mix, add ingredients and especially help with the tasting. This is all really great, but it can be frustrating when their interest wanes at dinner time and I am having to beg them to sit in their chairs and eat a meal with the family. The big boys in our family can eat so much at mealtime that it is easy for me to forget that little tummies get full really fast and sometimes feel empty just as quickly. That is why it is especially important to offer your little ones snacks that are good for them. They can't afford the junk food empty calories any more than the rest of us can.
We were shopping yesterday and grapes were on mega-sale. Grapes are a super snack food, and it just kills me in the winter when they get so expensive (not to mention they look like they are almost raisins while they are still in the store). We came across these grapes that were bigger than quarters - we had to buy them. In fact, we barely made it home to wash them before we all dove right in.
Offering your kids healthy snacks can be an easy way to establish not only healthy eating habits but to help them develop at taste for healthy food in a non-threatening way. Sometimes when we are faced with a plate full of a new food it can seem really scary and intimidating. Having just a little bit of that same food presented in such a casual way can really add to the chances that the food will not only be eaten but enjoyed.
If you are looking for some additional ways to present healthy snacks to your kids, Choose My Plate has some really great ideas.
They have 10 steps to making fruits and veggies more fun for your kids. and also
They even have a whole My Plate for Kids area full of ideas to inspire you (and motivate your kids)
