Recipe Ideas: Healthy Snacks for Kids

Whether at kindergarten or school: a healthy snack gives new energy for the day and also benefits children's health. However, vegetables, fruit, and whole grain products are not always at the top of the little ones' wish list. This is where parents' creativity is needed, because most of the time it doesn’t matter what children find in their snack box, but how mom and dad prepare the snack. We explain what makes a healthy snack for children and provide a few recipe ideas.

Healthy Snack – What Matters

Enough fruit and vegetables should never be missing in a snack box. The German Nutrition Society (DGE) recommends consuming 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day. One portion corresponds to what fits in a child's hand. Whole grain products provide important vital and dietary fibers. In addition, children should drink enough fluids. Water or unsweetened tea is ideal. If something with more flavor is desired, we recommend heavily diluted fruit spritzers. The most important thing is a varied selection. Only then are children supplied with all essential nutrients. These include vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and healthy fats.

Recipe 1: Snack in a Different Way – Bread Skewers

A healthy snack for children is especially well received when parents prepare small bites. Small bites, fruit or vegetable sticks tempt children to nibble and are also much more fun than the usual piece of bread. Therefore, our first recipe idea: bread skewers. This is super quick and easy to prepare but definitely won’t miss its effect.

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of whole grain bread
• 30 g cream cheese
• 4 small slices of ham, salami, or another sausage of choice
• Alternatively: small cheese cubes/cheese slices
• 80 g yellow bell pepper pieces
• 6 small cocktail tomatoes
• Grapes
• 2 wooden skewers

Instructions:

1. Cut the whole grain bread into small pieces and spread with cream cheese. Also cut all other ingredients like salami, ham, cheese, bell pepper, tomatoes, apple, and grapes into bite-sized pieces.
2. Then alternately thread all ingredients onto the skewers. Children will love this different way of enjoying bread!

Recipe 2: The Healthy Snack for In-Between: Healthy Muesli Bars

Of course, a snack in the lunchbox should not be missing in between. Ideally, it is healthy and also tastes good. With homemade muesli bars, parents know what’s inside and can let their children snack with a clear conscience. This snack is perfect as a healthy snack for children.

Ingredients:

• 200 g rolled oats (coarse)
• 100 g oat flakes
• 50 g hazelnuts (halved)
• 20 g dried berries
• 50 g sunflower seeds
• 20 g shredded coconut
• 50 g margarine
• 80 g sugar
• 100 g honey
• 1 tsp lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Mix the rolled oats, oat flakes, nuts, dried berries, sunflower seeds, and shredded coconut together.
2. Put margarine, sugar, and lemon juice in a pot and stir while cooking for 4 minutes until the mixture begins to caramelize slowly.
3. Add the mixed ingredients to the pot and stir until everything has a dark color.
4. Roll out the still warm mixture on a baking sheet into a 30 x 30 cm square.
5. Then let everything cool for 15 minutes and cut into small bars. The healthy snack for in-between is ready!

Recipe 3: Fruit Yogurt with Muesli-Nut Topping

Dairy products are also very important for children. After all, they supply the body with calcium. Children especially need this mineral for building bones and teeth. A fruit yogurt with crunchy muesli-nut topping is therefore perfect as a healthy snack for children.

Ingredients:

• Seasonal fruit
• 1 cup natural yogurt
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp sliced almonds
• 1 tbsp pistachios
• 3 tbsp honey
• 150 g Bircher muesli

Instructions:

1. Cut the fruit into small bite-sized pieces.
2. Mix yogurt, lemon juice, sliced almonds, and honey together.
3. Then fill everything into a food storage container and garnish with Bircher muesli and pistachios. Caution: The container should be well sealable! Also, don’t forget the spoon.

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