Healthy Snacks to Keep Active Kids Going

My kids are active. That means they are pretty much always hungry.

Today, I even caught my four year old daughter loading a backpack full of snacks in preparation for “if she were to get hungry” while at her gymnastics class. She had just finished breakfast and was already focused on the next things she was going to eat.

Making sure she’s snacking of foods that are going to provide her with the nutrition she needs and gives her the energy to keep going, is a challenge.

I spend a good portion of my day keeping the cabinets and their backpacks stocked with things that are both convenient and healthy.

Here are some things that I have found my kids love to eat to keep energized when they are playing:

Cut up fruit and veggies – I have found that if I have have pre-cut fruit in the fridge, my kids will devour it. For some strange reason, the kids don’t touch it if it is is not pre-cut. Any kind of dip always makes it more fun too if your kids need a little encouragement.

Sometimes we just leave a tray of cut veggies on the counter. It never fails that the kids will come by and snack as they pass by. It’s a great way to use that mindless eating habit to your advantage as a parent.

Water bottles – I am a huge fan of pop top water bottles. They typically don’t spill and I can get them in age appropriate sizes for my kids. We always keep some in the fridge and in the car so they are ready when we need them. You can jazz things up by popping a few berries in the water bottle for extra flavor.

 

Yogurt – My kids love yogurt. It is even better frozen. You can pop regular yogurt containers straight in the freezer and let kids eat them like ice cream once they freeze. My kids are convinced this is dessert.

Snack bars – Our favorite snack bar is a CLIF Kid Zbar® because they are made with organic, non-GMO ingredients and made without high fructose corn syrup. They also come in flavors my kids love and in a kid friendly size so that I don’t find half eaten ones lying around (which can be a problem with a lot of snack foods in my house).

CLIF Kid® focuses on making nutritious snacks from organic ingredients that are specially-crafted for kids’ developing taste buds and active lives. We always keep a few Zbars stashed away in the pantry for additions to school lunches or a quick snack.

I love that Clif Kid is making a huge push to get kids outside and playing. I’m a firm believer that kids need more play in their lives and I love that every Zbar provides kids with the nutrition they need to keep going.

Check out the latest video about play that Clif Kid just released.

Smoothies – It is amazing how many fruits and veggies you can sneak in a smoothie and still get kids to eat it. We load our smoothies up with greens and the kids still love them.

Nuts – My kids are a big fan of flavored nuts. They are a great alternative to chips. You can flavor your own nuts or buy some great varieties to keep on hand.

Jerky – This comes in so many different flavors, meats and textures that most kids can find one they like and it is a great source of protein. I find that pork jerky is softer and easier for kids to chew. It makes a great snack when you are in a hurry and need something to tide your kids over.

What healthy eating tricks do you use to make sure your kids get the nutrition that they need?

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.