Snacks are mini-meals that help keep us going until lunch or dinner. Children seem more inclined to snacking than adults and can often get addicted to a range of tasty but distinctly unhealthy snacking options such as chips, cookies and aerated drinks. Most mothers today find it really difficult to ensure that their kids eat a selection of healthy snacks. However, weaning children off unhealthy snacking is not so difficult – all it requires is a little advance planning, and the time and patience to replace store-bought goodies with homemade nutritious ones.
So what makes a good snack? According to me, a good snack is one that is well balanced and nutrient-dense. This means that each bite contributes to the child's intake of healthy foods. Six nutrients are needed to maintain a growing and healthy body - carbohydrates, protein, fat, minerals, vitamins and water. To meets a child’s requirement of these nutrients just ensure a healthy blend of food groups like cereals, pulses, dairy products, fruits and vegetables. This does not mean you have to include all these in the same snack, but try and cover at least two to three food groups at a time, and divide the rest throughout the day.
Remember snacks are an important part of your child’s daily diet, helping not only to bridge the gap between meals and provide necessary nutrients, but also to encourage good eating habits.
So get ready to surprise your little darlings when they get home from school or play by whipping up yummy and healthy snacks!
POTATO POPS
A great hit with kids of all ages, these miniature party pieces will have them rushing back for more
POTATO POPS
A great hit with kids of all ages, these miniature party pieces will have them rushing back for more
Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 12 to 15 minutes Makes 8 pops.
1 cup boiled and grated potatoes
¼ cup grated carrots
1 brown bread slice, soaked and squeezed
½ tsp ginger-green chilli paste
2 tbsp chopped coriander
A pinch sugar
1 cheese cube
2 tsp oil for cooking
Salt to taste
1. Cut the cheese cube into 8 equal pieces and keep aside.
2. Soak the bread slice in a bowl of water. Squeeze out the water and mash the bread.
3. In a bowl place the mashed bread and add potatoes, carrots, green chilli paste, coriander, sugar, salt and mix well.
4. Divide into 8 equal portions and shape each portion into a flat round.
5. Place a cheese cube in the centre of each round and shape into ovals.
6. Pierce a candy stick into each oval and press the potato pops on the stick making an oval shape. Keep aside.
7. Cook both sides on a lightly greased non-stick pan till golden brown.
Serve hot.
Nutritive values per pop
Energy: 44 calories
Protein: 1.3 gm
Carbohydrates: 4.9 gm
Fats: 2.1 gm
Vitamin A: 129.0 mcg
Potassium: 41.9 mg
Zinc: 0.1 mg
FRUIT LOLLIES
Lip-smacking lollies made from protein- and calcium-rich curds and fruits that provide fibre
Preparation time: 5 minutes Cooking time: Nil. Makes 8 fruit lollies.
1 cup stewed apples, recipe below
¼ cup chopped bananas
½ cup fresh curds (dahi)
1 tbsp sugar
¼ tsp lemon juice
For the stewed apples
¼ cup chopped apples
1 tbsp sugar
¼ tsp lemon juice
For the stewed apples
1. In a vessel, mix all the ingredients with 2 tbsp of water and cook till all the moisture evaporates and apples become soft and light brown in colour.
2. Remove from the flame and keep aside to cool.
How to proceed
1. Combine the stewed apples, bananas, curds and sugar and blend into a smooth mixture in a blender.
2. Add the lemon juice and mix well.
3. Pour into plastic moulds and freeze for 6 to 8 hours till firm.
4. Insert tooth picks into the frozen lollies and unmould.
Serve immediately.
Nutritive values per lolli
Energy: 23 calories
Protein: 0.3 gm
Carbohydrates: 4.1 gm
Fats: 0.4 gm
Calcium: 14.5 mg