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Snack Ideas for Kids That Won't Wreck Mom's Diet
By Kim Beardsmore
If you are a mom at home on a diet, you will probably related to a frequent
situation I encounter as a weight loss consultant. Many of my clients with
children are able to keep to a healthy eating plan through most circumstances
except two. It all starts to go astray when the kids come home from school, or
when they are preparing school lunches.
It's no surprise really. Kids love snacks we buy from the supermarket, and
parents love them because they are quick and easy to throw into the lunchbox or
for kids to grab from the shelves in the pantry. Small bags of chips, tasty
bite size crackers, sodas and the like. No problem. Except when it comes to
mom's weight loss program. Mom loves them too!
These products are high in fat, high in energy and high in refined sugars. And
after one, two or three nibbles it is possible to wrack up an unwanted 500
calories. This single act will probably stall your weight loss or even worse!
To stop your kids from sabotaging your weight loss efforts, here are 20 snack
ideas for kids that will do far less damage to your weight loss program if mom
nibbles (just a little).
1. Chop up ½ tinned pear or other fruit in natural juice and set in 200mls of
low calorie jelly. Make up into individual disposable plastic containers with
lids.
2. Cut up crisp vegetable sticks with dipping sauce - ranch, peanut (satay),
sweet chili or tomato.
3. Cut celery sticks 6-8 cm, fill with cottage cheese and top with sultanas or
chopped nuts.
4. Combine a mixture of low fat hard cheese cubes, nuts and dried fruits in
plastic wrap or a lunch bag.
5. Roll up thin slices of carrot and celery with grated cheese in a slice of
cold meat. Secure with toothpick. Slice the carrot and celery with a vegetable
peeler for really thin slices.
6. Cut oranges into quarters and freeze on trays. Put into plastic bags for a
fruity ice block.
7. Meatball surprise. Next time you are making meatloaf, double the quantity and
make a batch of meatballs. These are great in lunchboxes cold. Add a slice of
pineapple with a toothpick to each meatball. Add dipping tomato sauce if
required.
8. Mini quiches….make a batch of crust-less quiche and cook in muffin tray. Each
'muffin' will be a wonderful healthy snack for kids.
9. Chilled fruit surprise - slice a combination of strawberries, bananas, kiwi
fruit, watermelon, grapes or in season fruit. Place in small resealable plastic
container. Top with apple juice; do not overfill. Seal, freeze. When packed in
lunchbox, will keep sandwiches cool and prove a refreshing treat on a hot day.
10. Rice cakes spread with mashed avocado, mashed banana and cinnamon, or try
mashed avocado, sliced tomato and sprouts.
11. Chopped hard-boiled egg served with low fat mayo, salt, pepper on a crisp
bread.
12. Leaf wrappers: wrap a cheese finger, celery stick and carrot stick in a
lettuce leaf. Wrap in foil and place in lunchbox. Contents will be kept moist.
13. Yoghurt tub.
14. Baby Bell Cheese and low fat cracker.
15. Creamy dates: slice dates lengthways, remove stone. Fill with Philadelphia
cream cheese (low fat).
16. Quick sausage rolls: wrap a skinned (good quality) sausage in several sheets
of filo pastry. Brush pastry with beat egg to glaze. Cut into desired lengths.
Bake in moderately hot oven for 15-20 minutes. Rolls can be frozen.
17. Same as above but use fresh chicken breast strips and cut to 2" - use tomato
or favorite dipping sauce
18. After school hot snack attack: Spread a round of pita bread with tomato
paste and herbs. Top with tomato, ham, mortadella, add onion, sliced mushrooms
or pineapple. Sprinkle grated low fat hard cheese over pita bread. Grill to
make a tasty pizza. If no pita bread is available, substitute a crisp bread.
19. Fruity kebabs: place bite size pieces of fruit in season on kebab skewers.
20. Pop top sandwich tuna tin, crisp bread, sachet of mayonnaise. Kids can put
their snack together at school so that it doesn't go soggy.
Remember fresh is best both for yourself and your children. By substituting
these ideas for some of the prepackaged snack food and cookies your kids eat
you will be doing both them and yourself a favor.
(c) Copyright Kim Beardsmore
You are free to publish this article in its entirety, without changes as long as
the Copyright and Author's Bio, remain in place and the URLs and links remain
intact and working.
About The Author
Kim is a successful weight loss coach who will cut through the diet-hype and
help you reach your goal weight. No public 'weigh-ins', meetings that cost you
money or fads...simply results you will love! You can receive a free
consultation. Visit today: http://tinyurl.com/6l2cd.
Link to this page
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| Quick Meals for Healthy Kids and Busy Parents |
| Sandra K. Nissenberg |
| In a world of frozen dinners and fast food drive-thrus, nutrition has taken a backseat to convenience. Make Healthy Meals as Fast as You Can Have Them Delivered. Here’s help for working parents. With over 140 healthy and delicious recipes you can make in 30 minutes or less. |
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