Food For Thought: Aunt Jess's Blog

While on vacation in the summer, the last thing parents want to think about is spending time in the kitchen. At the same time, parents don't want their kids eating junk food on the beach all day long either. Well, with a little planning and just a few minutes, summer vacation snacks can be both easy and healthy.

Healthy Snacks for Kids

A healthy snack for kids should be filled with natural protein and complex carbohydrates, which will help keep your kids' blood sugars steady until their next meal.

Below are some of my personal Emma & Reed approved recommendations:

• Apples and peanut butter - core an apple and add organic peanut butter in the middle, then slice in a circle and wrap and go. 
• Celery and peanut butter or low-fat cream cheese
• Carrots and hummus
• Toasted whole-wheat pita bread with hummus.
• Turkey and low-fat string cheese in a pita wrap, cut into pieces.
• Vegetable slices (red, yellow and green peppers, cucumbers, carrots, string beans) and a non-fat or low-fat yogurt dip.  Mix plain yogurt and add Dijon mustard or mix with another salad dressing that your kids prefer.
• Grilled chicken and a BBQ sauce dip or a teriyaki sauce dip.
• Edamame
• Trail mix that you and your kids can mix together and add to yogurt or eat plain.