 Satisfying the taste buds of children is not that easy. But if you make fun healthy snacks for kids that are good looking and also align with their palate, they will love it. Foods that are mouth-watering for adults can be disgusting for the kids. Hence, the psychology of children should be kept in mind before giving them food to eat. Healthy Snacks for kids are the best source to give extra nutrition to your child. It can be fun for your child and energizes them. Processed foods may fill your child’s tummy, but they are not a healthy option. Try to make easy healthy snacks for kids at home for your child. Here are 12 fun and healthy snack ideas for Kids who will actually eat them! 1. Yogurt : Yogurts have unconditional benefits. It is a source of calcium and protein. Toddlers need calcium to develop their bones stronger. Some yogurts contain added bacteria strains that are beneficial for the digestive system. Get yogurt that is free from artificial sugar. Moreover, avoid artificial flavoring by opting for plain and full-fat yogurt. Add fresh fruits and honey to increase sweetness. Also, don’t add honey if you are giving it to your child under 12 months. Children younger a year old can develop an infection called botulism.
2. Noodles: Noodles can be made in different ways according to the taste buds of your child. You can add veggies, cheese, or meat in it. Pasta is a source of complex carbohydrates- Cook pasta in your kid’s favorite shape. You can also keep it in the refrigerator. When needed, microwave it after adding veggies or cooked chicken. 3. Nuts: It is one of the healthy snack ideas for kids. Nuts are a source of healthy fats, antioxidants, and fiber. Fats are important for children’s growth. Some doctors suggest avoiding nuts for your child because of the risk of allergy. But if your kid is not allergic to them, they double as a great snack for them. 4. Banana Sushi: Banana is great for the health of kids. Banana sushi is a banana rolled in a whole wheat tortilla. You can add on peanut butter, Nutella, or almond butter to increase sweetness. Slice banana sushi and garnish some chocolate syrup on it. You can also give a banana to your kid as a healthy snack. It is one of the easy snacks for kids. 5. Crunchy Roasted Peas: If your kids don’t like mushy peas, you can try crunchy roasted pees for them. It is also easy to make them. Firstly, take out frozen peas from the fridge and coat them with olive oil. After that, grind peas and add paprika, onion powder, salt, and garlic powder in it. Spread it on a baking sheet and bake until it becomes brown and crispy. In seconds, you get a delicious healthy snack for kids. 6. Popcorn: Who doesn’t like popcorn? Children love popcorn. People tend to consider it unhealthy but this is not the case. It is healthy because it is made from whole grain. Don’t add toppings because they are unhealthy. However, microwavable popcorn is unhealthy. Instead, prepare it on a stove top. Add butter in it and sprinkle some cheese on it to make it tastier. Also, be cautious when giving popcorn to your younger children, as it can lead to choking. 7. Cottage Cheese: It is beneficial for people of every age and recommended by doctors to those who need calcium. Cottage cheeses are soft and creamy. This explains why kids from age 1 to 4 eat it easily. It is a source of selenium, calcium, and vitamin B12. It is also rich in proteins. Vitamin B12 helps in the growth and development of children’s brains. Give your children cottage cheese slices as a snack or you can sprinkle some dried fruits on it. You can also use it as a spread on a toast. 8. Oatmeal: Oats are a great source of fiber. Fiber increases the production of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract. Purchase oatmeal that is not high in sugar like flavored packets. Buy whole rolled oats and make your own oatmeal by adding cinnamon and apple for taste. To add some more protein and calcium, make oatmeal from milk instead of water. This way, your child will also experience the benefits of milk. 9. Smoothie: Smoothies are a delicious way to fill your kids’ tummies. Fruit smoothies are more beneficial than others, as they include a lot more nutrients. If your kid can drink veggie smoothies, add some veggies to it as well. Add some honey to reduce the unwanted taste of vegetables. Use fresh ingredients and avoid pre-packaged ingredients when preparing smoothies. 10. Boiled Eggs: Eggs are packed with nutrition. They are a source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, including selenium, riboflavin, and vitamin B12. They also include lutein and zeaxanthin that are beneficial for eyes. Eggs are a great snack and provide your child with essential energy. Also, it is one of the food sources of vitamin and chlorine, which helps in your child’s brain development. 11. Hummus: Humus has a nutty flavor, and it is one of the healthy snacks for kids. Hummus is usually made from chickpeas. Its soft, creamy texture makes it easy for your child to eat. It is a source of vitamin B6, iron, and folate. Serve hummus on the kid’s plate and add some vegetables and crackers for dipping. You can also make sandwiches by using hummus as a spread.
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 Now that winter has finally arrived so has cold and flu season. While winter should be a time for kids to play in the snow or building snowmen, it can also quickly become problematic if you and your kids are not prepared for the snowy season. Therefore parents need to take extra precaution to keep the children healthy and safe. We hope below health tips for children would be helpful to make your children stay stronger and enjoy their favorite season to the fullest! 1. Avoid winter colds: First of all there is a misconception that cold weather causes kids to get sick easily, really doesn’t causes cold. In most cases the cold is mainly caused by viruses that we are more commonly exposed to in the winter months. Viruses spread even more easily when children are in school and in close contact with each other, typically through respiratory droplets in the air and on hands. Here are a few proven health tips for kids to avoid children’s colds in the winter. 2. Hydration in winter:Water is essential for human bodies, it not only carries nutrients to the cells in the body but it also helps clearing toxins in the body. Help kids keep themselves hydrated throughout winter to avoid risk of getting sick with common cough and cold. Kids should drink between 3-4 cups of water daily depending on their age and weight. Sometime kids may not like to drink water so it doesn't have to be plain water if your child doesn’t like. You can make her health smoothie or also give fruit infused water that doesn't taste bland or has high amount of sugar like commercial juices. 3. Hand hygiene:Kids should wash hands frequently with soap and water during winter. It would greatly reduce the spread of germs and incidence of cold in children. Kids should wash their hands with soap and water for at 30 seconds;
4. Keep immunization updated: Keep your and your children’s vaccinations up to date and current and that includes the yearly flu shot. Children over the age of 6 months and adults should get it every year. 5. Dress for weather:Both the parents and the younger kids should appropriately adjust your clothes for winter appropriately.
 For most people eating habits develop in their early childhood and the eating patterns can continue into adolescence and then through to adulthood. In most cases the picky eating often appears around one year this is a time when many children start feeding themselves. After rapid growth during infancy, toddler’s growth and appetite generally tends to slow down. They can now choose what and how much to eat, giving them some degree of control over their lives. Therefore, some days they may eat a lot of everything. Other days they may not seem to eat much at all. So, what can you as parents do when you are this situation. Also, it is must to choose the healthy snacks for picky eaters. 1. Be A Healthy Eating Role Model: To start off, if you yourself eat a variety of healthy foods, your child is more likely to follow you. Also it goes without saying that when trying to teach good eating habits to your kid the parents should try to set themselves as a best example such as by choosing nutritious snacks, eat at the table as a family, and don't missing or skipping your meals.
2. Have a Set Meal And Snack Times: Consistency is a great helper in setting and managing good eating habits not only just your kid but even adults can also get benefited by it. Set times for serving the meals and healthy snacks for picky eaters in your home and serve meals and snacks at about the same times every day. In the meal offer a variety of healthy foods and drinks. Aside from water at the meals, milk, yogurt and juices can be included This will allow your kid and family members to know when it’s time for them to fuel up. 3. Avoid or Minimize Distractions: To help your kid focus on eating, try to avoid all possible disruptions and distractions they may have. So, turn off the electronic gadgets such as television, mobile phones and your tablets during mealtimes. Also remember not to each in front of watching TV shows or movies since kids oriented advertisements will tempt not just the kid but others as well to crave for sugary junk foods instead of healthy foods that’s on the table! 4. Offer Variety of Healthy Foods: At the mealtime offer a variety of food choices; including the foods that your child does like. One of the ways to encourage your kid to try out new foods is to put them close to the foods your child already likes. Let her to smell, touch and taste the new food. Bring and offer new foods to the kids as frequently as you can but don’t expect you kid to eat them at once. It is normal for kids to be offered a new food more than 10-15 times before they try it. Pro Tip: Keep healthy foods, such as a bowl of berries, oranges or bananas, where your kid can reach them so when they get hungry, they can easily get to good foods. You’d be surprised how much and how often these foods will get eaten compared to when they are kept in the pantry of fridge! 5. Introduce Foods Multiple Times: If your child does not like the food on the first try, it’s okay – keep trying. It is completely normal for a child to reject a food when it is first introduced. In fact, it can take anywhere from 10-20 times just seeing a food before a child will try it. Don’t give up and keep introducing new foods. Just remember, do not force your little one to eat the food; let them try it when they are ready. Your job is just to keep putting it on the table. 6. Play With Food: As small children still learning about the outside world and exploring new textures, a new food can be overwhelming. Therefore, it is essential that, before you expect your little ones to eat a new food, we first allow them to explore that food. Even get messy! While talking to them about the food describe the texture, smell, color and taste of the food. This will let them know what to expect when they eat it. 7. Let Them Be in Control: For most people food is personal, it is the same for children. When children feel out of control, they can become upset and refuse to each all foods, sometimes even their favorite ones. To avoid this, always give your child a few choices during mealtime. Offer carrots, cucumbers or broccoli and let your child choose. Always try to have at least one of their preferred food in those choices. 8. Don't Have Expectations: Before you say anything, it is okay for them to spit food out! It is important that we let the kids try a new food, but they do not need have to finish it if they didn’t like it. They can even spit it out if they don’t like it. It is also perfectly fine that at be times when they choose nothing, and it’s important to be okay with that sometimes. Some kids simply will not like certain foods and that’s okay! As adults, we also have our food preferences. It may sound hard as it seems, the best thing you can do is to accept and move on. Don’t make a big deal out of it and they won’t either. Pro Tip: Preparing a separate meal for your child after she rejects the original meal might promote picky eating. Similarly offering your child their favorite cupcake in exchange for finishing their broccoli as a reward is also a slippery slope. Encourage your child to stay at the table for the designated mealtime, even if he or she doesn't eat. 9. Be Creative When Needed: Most parents are used to this work around! Adding a chopped broccoli or green peppers to spaghetti sauce, topping cereal with fruit slices, or mixing grated zucchini and carrots soups can amazingly make the kids eat them sometimes without realizing what’s it in! 10. Never Force Food: Sounds familiar? Many parents force their child to eat food they want her to eat. This can create a negative relationship with food even way into their adulthood. On the other hand it may actually lead your child to eat even fewer foods. Another downside is that it can also lead them to have poor self-regulation around food. We want children to be able to learn how to control how much they eat and develop a healthy relationship with eating. |
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