Healthy Back to School Snacks & Breakfasts
Back to school time is a good time to revamp your family's eating habits. Creating new healthy snacks and breakfasts for your children will encourage the entire family to follow suit. Eating healthy snacks and breakfasts needn't be synonymous with costing lots of money or eating boring foods. There are ideas for all tastes and budgets that are both low in fat and high in nutrition.
Smoothies
Set up a variety of items for making smoothies and your kids will drink their healthy breakfasts and snacks. They'll likely even help to make them, too. Assemble a tray with a variety of fruits like bananas, apples, berries, and low fat yogurt. Have the kids choose their fruits. Peel them and toss them into a blender. Add low fat yogurt and skim milk along with a dash of vanilla or honey for added flavor. Throw in a handful of ice cubes and blend on high until the fruit is blended and smooth. Garnish with a sliced strawberry or kiwi.
Have travel mugs on hand for snacks and breakfasts on the run.
Dips
Kids seem to eat almost anything that they can submerge in dip. The two keys to this scenario are to make sure they are dipping healthy items and that what they are dipping them in has some healthy qualities, too.
Cut up raw veggies and serve hummus as dip. Lowfat or fat free ranch dressing is an acceptable option if it means kids will actually eat the veggies. Stir in some grated carrots for extra nutrition.
Slice fruits like bananas, apples, peaches, kiwi, and berries and dip them in low fat yogurt.
Offer celery stalks that can be dipped in a little bit of natural peanut butter for a protein punch.
Granola
Make your own granola for sit down breakfasts and snacks for those first few transition days of back-to-school time. This granola is one snack or breakfast that can even travel with the family. Keep individual baggies filled with granola made from oatmeal, nuts, dried fruits, wheat germ, and honey; and grab a bag on the way out the door. Eat at home and enjoy a bowl with sliced bananas and skim milk. Stir a half cup of granola into a carton of lowfat yogurt for a nutritious and delicious after school snack.
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