Healthy Snacks - Quick and Easy Recipes

What is a Healthy Snack?

A healthy snack is a small portion of food or drink or a light meal that is low in fat. It comes in a variety of forms including packaged and processed foods and items made from fresh ingredients at home. This can include salads with non-fat dressing, a fat-free yogurt, vegetable sticks, fruits, wholegrain bread, a bowl of low-fat cereals and skimmed milk. Snacking on nutritious food is a quick way to keep your energy level high and your mind alert.

Healthy Snacks for Kids: Snacking is good for children. It helps your kids to stay focused at school while feeling brisk and energetic all through the day. Offer your kids a snack that contains proteins and fiber to fill their stomach. Snacks like fruits, nuts, chopped vegetables, and yogurt help satisfy your child’s hunger between meals without completely suppressing their growing appetite. Here is a simple and healthy snack mix you can try for kids:

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole grain cereals
• ¼ cup dried fruit of your choice
• ¼ cup of nuts, such as walnuts pieces, almonds or pistachios
• ¼ cup whole grain crackers or pretzel

Method:

• Measure out all the ingredients into a large bowl
• Mix all the ingredients well and serve your kids

Healthy Snacks for Weight Loss: A healthy snack involves choosing food items for a balanced diet or healthy eating plan. A healthy eating plan includes foods that have essential nutrients like vitamins, proteins and minerals that can be got easily from whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, yogurt and skimmed milk. Snacking on food items made of such healthy ingredients in between your regular meals will help to manage your weight and stay fit and healthy. Here is a healthy snack recipe for weight loss:

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of currants
• 1 tablespoon of sultanas
• 1 tablespoon of raisins
• 1 tablespoon of dried chopped apricots
• 200ml yogurt of your choice

Method:

• Mix all the dried foods in a bowl
• Add yogurt and stir to combine all items
• The snack is ready to eat

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Healthy Snacks for Toddlers: Toddlers love to snack. A satisfying balance of healthful foods like fruits, vegetables, wholegrain and calcium-rich foods will keep their stomach full enough, while waiting for their main meals and can also boost their nutrition levels. Most toddlers snack two or three times a day in between meals at mid-morning, mid-afternoon and sometimes after dinner. Here is a quick recipe you can try for your toddler.

Mango and Peach Smoothie

Ingredients

• 2 medium fresh peaches
• 2 fresh, ripe mangos
• 1 cup of low-fat milk
• 1 cup of orange juice

Method:

• Place the mangos, peaches, orange juice, milk and ice in a blender
• Blend until smooth and feed this to your toddler with a spoon

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Healthy Snack Recipes

Apple and Cheese Toast

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 4 whole wheat bread slices
• ½ cup grated apples
• 4 tablespoons grated mozzarella cheese
• 2 tablespoons grated carrots

Method:

• Apply butter on each bread slice and keep aside
• Take 2 tablespoons of grated apple and spread evenly on each slice
• Take 1 tablespoon of cheese and ½ tablespoon of grated carrots, sprinkle over each slice and bake them in a pre-heated oven at 200 degree Celsius for 5 to 10 minutes or till the cheese melts
• Place in a plate and serve hot.