Fun, Healthy Snacks Kids Can Make Themselves

Most parents know that getting kids to eat a healthy snack can prove difficult. But what if they made it themselves? Below we’ve included three easy snacks kids can make at home without adult supervision. (And there’s not an ants on a log among them.) And remember: A big mess is a small price to pay for creating life-long healthy eating habits.

Yogurt parfait
Ingredients
Plastic parfait glasses
Plain yogurt (buy quart containers and sweeten with honey)
Berries
1 toasted Van’s waffle or 3 toasted Van’s French Toast Sticks (NOTE: To ensure safety and kid-friendliness, parents should chop and toast the product beforehand, see directions below.)
Shredded coconut or chocolate chips

Directions
Toast waffle or French Toast sticks per packaging directions. Set aside to cool. Place in food processor and pulse gently for 10 to 15 seconds. Spread on a cookie sheet and cook for five minutes at 400 degrees, or until crisp like breadcrumbs. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

Place yogurt in a thin layer in the bottom of the parfait glass using a soup spoon or small spatula. Sprinkle berries on top of the yogurt layer then top with a thin of layer of waffle crumbs. Repeat until parfait glass is full, leaving about ½ inch at the top of the glass. Sprinkle with shredded coconut or chocolate chips and more waffle crumbs. Enjoy!

Note: For a faster version of this snack, simply toast the waffle or French Toast sticks, allow them to cool and chop or tear into small pieces. Layer the pieces instead of crumbs.

Margherita Personal Pizza
Ingredients
Whole-wheat pita or whole wheat English muffin
Tomato sauce
Grated mozzarella
Chopped cherry tomatoes (parents should slice beforehand)
Basil (optional)

Directions
Top pita or English muffin with tomato sauce and sprinkle with mozzarella. Add cherry tomatoes. Place in microwave for 30 seconds to warm. Tear basil and sprinkle on top. Leftover veggies, like roasted peppers or asparagus, also make great toppers for a personal pizza.

Note: Older children or young teenagers can use a butter knife to chop the tomatoes and can warm the pizza in the toaster oven instead of the microwave if an adult is present.

Energy Balls
Ingredients
One banana
½ c. chunky peanut butter
½ c. toasted wheat germ (parents can toast ahead of time in a toaster oven or in the broiler. Toasted wheat germ will keep its texture if stored in a jar and refrigerated)
Crushed peanuts, mini chocolate chips, dried cranberries or coconut

Directions
Mash banana in a bowl and mix in peanut butter and wheat germ. Using a teaspoon, roll into 1-inch balls. Toss the balls in the crushed nuts, dried cranberries, mini chocolate chips or coconut.