Are Your Kids Picky Eaters? Try These Delicious Healthy Snacks!

When it comes to children, it can be difficult to find foods they love. Their palettes tend to like sweet, sweet and then more sweet. This doesn’t always lend itself to eating habits or a wide variety of options. Eating healthy for kids doesn’t always mean feeding them nothing but vegetables. It’s more of a gradual thing. Instead of cookies, try some goldfish crackers. Instead of brownies, make your own granola bars. Healthy kid snacks can be accomplished by finding something they enjoy, then hiding the healthy within! So if you’re looking for new ways to get your kids to eat a bit healthier, then try some of these ideas. Not all of them will be hits, but when you only need to find a few popular snacks! 

1 - Kale Chips

Kids often like salty chip snacks. Introducing them to kale chips at an early age can get them on a healthy kick from an early age. Kale is full of nutrients, but children are often put off by raw leafy greens and their flavor. The recipe for kale chips is simple: 

• 1 bunch of kale
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• ½ tsp salt

Simply tear the kale into smaller chip sized pieces. After washing it, toss the kale in the olive oil and the spices. Bake it on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees for around 10 minutes. Kale burns quickly. You can add some pepper or other seasonings if you want to try for something a little different. 

2 - Energy Balls

Energy balls are a pretty popular item because they remind children of cookie dough. However, they are loaded with fiber and protein. Energy balls are great because their sweetness comes from natural forms like honey and dried fruit. Try this recipe: 

• 2 cups oats
• ⅔ cup honey
• 1 cup almond butter
• 1 cup whole chia seeds (can also use ground flax seeds if preferred) 
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup dried fruit

Chop the dried fruit if it’s larger pieces. Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl. From there, simply turn them into circles and chill them in the fridge. Some people choose to include dark chocolate as well. 

3 - Bake Sweet Potato French Fries

Rather than using oil and frying potatoes, sweet potato fries have more vitamins and are great for eye health. Sweet potato fries are easy and the recipe is incredibly simple. For more fries, simply increase the recipe amounts. 

• 1 Large Sweet Potato
• 1 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Sea Salt to Taste

First, peel the potatoes and slice them into fries. Don’t make them too thick or they won’t cook well. If they’re too thin, they can burn. Toss them in the olive oil and the salt. Bake them on a cookie sheet for 20 minutes. It should be set to 425 degrees. For alternative options, you can try seasoned salts or other spices if your kids like them. 

4 - Fruit Smoothies

Smoothies are a great way to hide vegetables that children don’t want to eat. The sweetness of berries or other fruit will help to cover up the vegetables. The following recipe uses spinach. Carrots, beets and a host of other vegetables can be chosen instead if it’s preferred. Try this recipe, then experiment with other options; 

• 2 cups frozen strawberries (or mixed berries)
• 2 cups spinach
• 1 cup yogurt
• 1 cup milk or almond milk
• 1 tbsp honey

Simply add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend until it’s smooth. Avoid adding sugar or other additives to ensure that it remains healthy. Using natural unflavored yogurt will help reduce sugar as well.