As a grandparent with grandchildren in the house, it is always good to be prepared and have ingredients for quick, healthy snacks on hand.  Make a game of it: see how many food groups your grandchild can get into one healthy snack - and enjoy it, too. Here are 6 healthy snacks for your grandchildren to enjoy at grandma’s:

• Nana’s Banana Cool Slices:  Slice ripe bananas, place them on a flat sheet of wax paper in the freezer and leave until they are completely frozen. Store in a plastic bag - if they last that long. Freezing the banana slices seems to make them sweater. These are especially good on a hot, summer day. One on the roof of your mouth is usually enough to cool you off.
• Nana’s Banana Smoothie:  After freezing banana slices, pop them into a blender with some ice and yogurt. Add some berries and juice, too, if you’d like. This goes smooth and cool down the throat.
• Nana’s Bagel Bites:  Toast mini bagels, then spread with pasta sauce and top with low fat mozzarella cheese. Teens usually love these.
• Nana’s Healthy Mix: Mix toasted oats cereal with dried cherries, almonds, and mini M&Ms. This is good for on the go grandchildren and grandparents, too. Change the mixture according to your grandchildren’s preferences. Younger grandchildren may just want the cereal and M&Ms. Be aware of possible allergies.
• Nana’s Fruit Pops:  Freeze 100% juice in ice pop freezer containers or purchase all natural frozen fruit pops. Add small pieces of fruit or mix up the juices for new flavors. These certainly satisfy the sweet tooth.  Great for teethers, too.
• Nana’s Buggies on a Branch:  Cut celery stalks into 3-inch pieces, fill with peanut butter, and top with raisins marching in a line (buggies). These are good for older grandchildren. Younger grandchildren may like just the raisins.  Add raisins to the toasted oats cereal snack above.

Shopping List:

• Bananas
• Yogurt
• Berries
• Toasted Oats Cereal
• Dried Cranberries
• Sliced Almonds
• Mini M&M’s
• 100% Fruit Juice or Ice Pops
• Peanut Butter
• Celery
• Raisins
• Mini Bagels
• Pasta Sauce
• Low Fat Mozzarella Cheese

Online Resource:  My Pyramid for Kids

Posted by Nana on March 9th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
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