Do worry that your kids are not eating enough healthy snacks?  A bite or two of a sweet treat is alright on occasion, however, sacks of candy or some of the other things that pass as food are definitely not the way to go if you want your children to stay healthy.

Some Easy On-the-Go Snacks

Cheese – with loads of calcium and B vitamins, cheese is an all-around tasty food. It can be eaten straight from the package or melted on vegetables. With so many types your kids are sure to love more than one!

Yogurt – it is rich in calcium, but watch out for the fruit-flavors that have added sugars. It is better to buy plain yogurt and chop up fresh fruit to go with it.

Berries – Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, currants – you can eat them raw, or blend them up and freeze in popsicle form to get kids of any age to eat them. They are full of vitamin C, which will help your kids to keep their gums and teeth healthy. They will help heal injuries to the body caused by any playground accidents and they promote brain health – what could be better than that?

Eggs –  are a complete protein and can be snuck into just about any dish at the end of cooking. Think vitamin D, healthy hair, and nails.

Bananas – easy to eat, and a naturally gluten free treat! Just about anywhere you travel you can pick up a bunch for an on-the-go snack. They are perfect in Paleo banana bread and mixed up in a smoothie. They contain a load of nutrients: vitamins B6, C, and A, as well as iron, manganese, potassium, and biotin. The carbohydrates in bananas are easy to digest and will give children instant energy – better than an energy bar any day!

Apples, grapes, oranges, and pears all make for great snacks as well. The plus side is that they don’t require refrigeration and your kids will love them.

Lead by Example

The bottom line is, real food is really good food. Teach your kids to eat snacks with nutritional values and lead by example.  If they see you eat a candy bar, they will want the same thing. If you are slurping down a berry-yogurt smoothie with a hint of honey, chances are they would choose that too and drink it all while your head is turned.

What is your favorite go-to snack for kids?