Healthier Snacks!

I like to snack...for those of you who know me well, that will come as no surprise. I enjoy eating and I like to do it often, but even though I sneak in chocolate, etc. here and there, I try to make healthier choices. I came across this list today of healthy food choices and thought I would pass it onto everyone.

The forum that I read it on was from the Holistic Mom's Network (HMN) http://www.holisticmoms.org/ which is a group that I recently joined in my area, but they have groups all over the USA. It's a great resource for moms, dads, grandparents, and caregivers to learn about more natural alternatives for parenting. It's been a great resource so far and I am looking forward to all I can learn from them!

Some good snack ideas:
1. I've read this before, but the forum today mentioned using a muffin tin as a snack tray (you can use a larger muffin tin for bigger kids or a smaller one for younger kids or if you want more variety). In the morning you can put in liners and fill the tray with a variety of different healthy items that kids can serve to themselves! Yea!
2. Individual Trail Mixes: Buy foods in bulk, like cashews, almonds, pecans, peanuts, soy nuts, dried cranberries, apple chips, pumpkin seeds, pretzels, cereal, etc., Have each child decides what she wants in her own container, write name on it, and take it along in the car for trips or other outings.
3. A Big Old List of Healthier Snack options (From HMN Forum):
*Baby Carrots
*Red seedless
*GrapesPineapple
*Korean Pear cut-up
*unsalted pretzels
*crackers
*cheese
*nut butter
*nuts
*seeds
*dried fruit
*raisins
*cherry tomatoes
*dates
*rice cakes
*olives
*unsweetened carob chips
*orange sections
*berries
*snap peas
*frozen veggies (yep, still frozen!)
*popcorn
*figs
*organic cereals
*hummus
*Homemade granola
*puffed rice/millet (or kamut/wheat)
*Blueberries
*Beans
*baby spinach leaves
*apple pieces
*grapefruit
*Edamame (cooked & shelled)
*Nori (strips to chew on)
*Sweet Potato (cut into chunks, toss in oil, roast)
*hard boiled eggs
*piecesfrozen blueberries
*cooked pasta
*cucumber slices
*pita wedges
*fruity booty, veggie bootie, pirate's booty
*toast
*tortillas
*healthy mini muffins
*stuffed grape leaves
*cheerios
*banana pieces rolled in oatmeal
*cooked beans
*toasted English muffins
*avocado chunks
*steamed broccoli
*cooked yucca chunks
*nut butter balls (rolled with pretty much whatever your child likes)
*black bean patties (homemade)
*cantaloupe
*Honeydew
*Mango
*Fruit leathers
*dried cranberries
*little beef jerky bits (depending on # of teeth and age of child, of course)
*cut up cherries
*Pear slices dipped in fruity yogurt
*prunes (not too many)
*sliced Nectarine
*sliced plum
*croutons (homemade)
*diced lunchmeat
*leftover pizza
*cut up fruit and grain bars
*Annie’s bunny grahams
*Barbara’s Bakery cheese bites
*Annie's Whole Wheat Bunnies
*Whole Grain pancake strips
*Whole Grain waffle strips
*canned, rinsed mandarin oranges
*diced watermelon
*Clementine slices
*pieces of a Larabar
*homemade baba ganoush
*chicken taquitos
*bagel pieces

So the next time you're looking for some snacks, I hope you can find some ideas here!