This post and recipes were contributed by Lauren Maddahi, a dietetic intern from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Kids starving after school? Fun homemade snacks are a great way to keep the energy going between lunch and dinner and help children meet the fruit and vegetable “quota”. Here are a few ideas for homemade snacks that your little ones can help prepare.
Fruit sticks with Honey Cinnamon Greek Yogurt
Ingredients:
- Your choice of seasonal fruits (Pear, Apple, Banana, Kiwi)
- 2 wooden skewers (or chopsticks)
- ¼ cup low-fat Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions:
1. Cut the pear and apple into large dices. Slice the banana and kiwi into thick rounds.
2. Poke the fruit with the skewer (or chopstick) and place on a plate.
3. In a small bowl, mix together the yogurt, cinnamon and honey. Serve on the side or drizzle over the fruit kabobs and enjoy!
Homemade Snacks: Fruit sticks with Honey Cinnamon Greek Yogurt
Banana Butterflies
Ingredients:
- ½ medium banana
- 2 tablespoons of any nut or or nut-free butter (almond butter, peanut butter, cashew butter, soy butter)
- 10 mini pretzels or pretzel slims
Directions:
1. Cut the banana into rounds and top with a small dollop of nut butter (or a nut-free butter if your child has food allergies).
2. Place two mini pretzels on the top and at an angle to look like a butterfly. Enjoy!
Homemade snacks: banana butterflies
Creamy Avocado Toasts
Ingredients:
- 6-8 whole grain crackers
- ¼ avocado, cubed
- 1 tablespoon greek yogurt
- 3 cherry tomatoes, slices
- 1 basil leaf, torn
Directions:
1. Mix the avocado and Greek yogurt together in a small bowl.
2. Top whole grain melba toasts (or other whole grain crackers) with a small dollop of the avocado mixture.
3. Add a slice of cherry tomato and basil leaf to finish it off.
4. Enjoy!
Homemade snacks: creamy tomato toast
