Everyone needs a break! Whether it’s a break IN the day, like snack time, or a break FOR a day, we all need a break from time to time! Kids and parents alike need to have scheduled time for a little refueling, refocusing, and refreshing. At our house, we looooovvee snacks! Ok, admittedly, we love all food, but we especially love snacks! I like to offer snacks during school time everyday to energize brains and keep grumpy tummies away. Did you know that there are certain types of foods that can help exponentially with these things? There are!
In fact, there has been much research done on this topic. Depending on how “science-y” you want to get, there are tons of articles out there to read through. One of my favorites for a quick read that’s full of info is this one. The author is an occupational therapist who uses the acronym “F.O.C.U.S.” to remember some great snack options and why each one is awesome.
If your family is anything like mine, even though the love for snacking runs deep, the need for variety is also important. There’s nothing worse than a bored snacker…you know the kind…the kids who are “starving” but nothing you offer sounds appealing. There have been times I nearly bent over backwards just so that snack time went smoothly. That is, until I realized I was trying too hard! Ultimately, I learned that the best snacks are the simplest snacks!!! Yep! Simple snacks? Alright!! I also learned that snacks are often enjoyed even more when kids help to prepare them themselves. I learned that one from my mom. She wrote an entire Master’s Degree thesis on kids’ nutrition, so her ideas for great snacks got tried out on my brother and I were kids–and we were glad for it, too!
When planning for snacks, I include lots of produce on my shopping list. I have actually started ordering a weekly fresh produce basket…it’s amazing! I love using seasonal produce. It offers great variety, and saves us money by not buying the more expensive out-of-season items. Some of our family favorite produce snacks are:
- carrots and hummus
- apples and peanut butter
- grapes (in the summer, we like frozen grapes!)
- kiwi fruit
- melons (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew)
- berries
- sugar snap peas, grape tomatoes, and olives
- jicama slices
- peaches, nectarines, apricots
- bell peppers (three colors on the same plate is fun!)
- cucumber circles
Side Note: I don’t offer calorie-packed dressings, like ranch, with the veggies. The kids don’t need the empty calories, and it covers up the deliciously unique taste of the foods. When we do use dips, it is usually either hummus or salsa.
Some other items we love to grab for quick school time snacks are also packed full of nutrients to fuel young brains hard at work:
- walnuts with raisins or dried cranberries
- popcorn
- corn chips and salsa
- avocado toast
- boiled eggs (or even deviled eggs!)
- tuna on crackers
- cheese sticks
We also have some favorite school snack time beverages! Many are variations on a fruit waters, and all are really delicious. Some yummy fruit water combos include:
- tangerine + strawberry
- blackberry + lemon
- lemon + orange + lime
- strawberry + cucumber
- cucumber + lemon
- kiwi + orange
What are some of your family’s favorite healthy things to munch on? Do the kids like to help prepare them? Now that our kids are older, I love that we spent so much time together in the kitchen when they were young. They now prepare healthy snacks for themselves! Sometimes, just to make me smile, one of them will hand me a snack they have prepared just for me “just because.” Talk about a heart-warmer!
Just because I love lists and plans, I’ll leave you with this last idea, mamas! Each weekend (or whenever you make your weekly shopping list), make a list of school time snacks you’ll serve that week, and add them to your grocery list. Then, post your “snack menu” somewhere the family can see it…it builds excitement! You might even put a sign- up line next to each day’s selection so the kids can plan to help! May your week be filled with fun, snacks, and the breaks you and your family need to make it a wonderful one. May joy prevail in your home, and in your heart.
Citrus Water
Ingredients
- 2 lemons
- 2 "cutie" oranges
- filtered water to fill a pitcher
Instructions
- Slice the fruit into uniform slices, about 1/4 inch thick.
- Place fruit slices into empty pitcher.
- Add filtered water to the top.
- Refrigerate for two hours, or until fully chilled.
- Serve and enjoy the refreshing flavors!