Healthy Snack Idea's for the Family

As a mom of two finding healthy snacks for the WHOLE family can sometimes be challenging, especially when you add in work and activities. I have a threenager at home, and what I’ve learned is even though he loves banana one week the next week he may avoid them. Keeping a variety of balanced snacks to rotate through can help with this and to increase a young child’s taste pallet. I put together a simple list of snack ideas that my family enjoys kids, mom and dad.

1. Beef sticks - I provided links to some of my favorite brands. Not all beef sticks are created equal. When searching for a beef stick you want to check for added sugar and additives. I love a beef stick that is meat, seasonings and casing made from the same animal source.

   1. Chomps 

   2. Paleo Valley 

   3. Epic 

   4. Archer 

2. DIY lunchables - These are one of my favorite things to have on hand! When I go grocery shopping I typically choose a few different combos to create and prep to have ready to go.

   

   
   

Different combos:

• Deli meat + Cucumbers + hummus + pistachios + fruit

• Salami + berries + olives + carrots

• Hard boiled egg + fruit slices + seed/nut crackers

• Quartered peanut butter & jelly sandwiches + fruit + celery & peanut butter

• Smoked salmon + Cucumber + cottage cheese

3. Chia Seed Pudding - This is so easy to batch make and is a great source of protein and fiber and can be made into lots of different flavors.

Basic Chia seed pudding recipe:

• 9 tbsp Chia seeds

• 4 Scoops chocolate protein powder

• 4 scoops Chocolate collagen powder

• Splash vanilla extract

• 2 cups Almond milk

Mix all ingredients together

Put in air tight containers in the fridge over night to achieve the right consistency.

4. Fruit - I like to put my fruit lower in the fridge - we keep ours in a drawer that my son can reach into. He like choosing his own fruit.

5. Pasture Raised String Cheese 

   1. We love Organic Valley Pasture Raised Sting Cheese

6. Homemade Muffins

   1. I keep a flavorless collagen powder to add to my muffins for a small amount of additional protein

      
      

Banana Nut Recipe - can be made into one loaf or 12 muffins

Ingredients:

1.5 cups flour of choice

3/4 cup sugar (granulated or brown sugar - I use coconut brown sugar)

2 mashed banana

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp baking soda

8 tbsp butter

2 eggs

• Mix sugar and room temperature butter with vanilla extract.

• Mash together two bananas with eggs then combine with butter/sugar mixture and mix all together.

• Slowly combine dry ingredients until batter is finished. Put into pre-greased pan and cook at 350. For loaf of bread 60 min for muffins 25-30 min

7. Deli Sliders - These are great for those looking to increase protein, and actually satisfy hunger cues and not just eat empty calorie snacks.

   1. Use Daves Killer bread or home made bread / bun and choose meat of choose. some favorites are sliced ham /turkey, shredded BBQ chicken and Tuna. Cut sandwiches in quarters and store two (1/2 sandwich) quarters together for easy on the go grabbing.

8. Vegetables & Hummus (make sure hummus is made with avocado or olive oil)

   1. Love sliced cucumbers, carrots, celery and broccoli to go with hummus.

9. Home Made Trail Mix

   1. My go to add ins: walnuts, pistachios, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, dark chocolate chips

10. Cottage Cheese & Fruit 

    1. I have already eaten my cottage cheese plain with a lot of black pepper with fruit on the side, berries, apple, pear etc. When working at the nursing home as the Dietary Supervisor I saw a lot of residents mixing fruit and cottage cheese, that profile is not for me - but you can try that also!

    2. As always make sure your dairy is sourced from pasture raised cows.

These items are easy to prep in advance and are easy to store so you can prep more than one serving at a time. I recommend Choosing 2-3 snacks for the week and prepping them / keeping them on hand. Being prepared is a game changer and will only take 20-40 minutes out of one day to prep.