Snacks are a way of life for people of all ages, but especially children, who consume about 25% of their daily calories from snacks, according to research published in the “Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.” Providing nutritionally balanced snacks for your children at home can make for a happy and healthy day.
Planning snacks that are as delicious as they are healthy is a winning solution, and snacks are a simple way to add more nutrition to your child’s diet.
Red, White and Blue Greek Yogurt Bark
Prep time: 5 minutes
Servings: 12
- 3 cups plain non-fat Greek yogurt
- 1/3 cup honey, plus additional for drizzling (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup strawberries, sliced into rounds
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1/2 cup raspberries, halved
- In medium mixing bowl combine Greek yogurt, 1/3 cup honey and vanilla.
- On parchment paper-lined baking sheet, spread Greek yogurt mixture to 1/4-inch thickness. Press strawberries, blueberries and raspberries into yogurt. Freeze at least 3 hours. Break into pieces upon removing from freezer.
Peanut Butter Yogurt Dip
Prep time: 5 minutes
Servings: 4
- 3/4 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 1 dash cinnamon
- apples, graham crackers or other dipper of choice
- In bowl, six Greek yogurt, peanut butter and cinnamon until smooth.
- Serve with apples, graham crackers or another dipper of choice.
Good Morning Yogurt Parfait
Prep time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1
- 1/2 cup sliced or diced fruit, any variety
- 6 ounces low-fat or fat-free vanilla yogurt
- 1/4 cup granola or other cereal (optional)
- In small bowl or cup, layer fruit and yogurt, starting with fruit on bottom. Top with cereal or granola, if desired.
- Note: This recipe can be made using low-fat or non-fat cottage cheese sweetened with honey and cinnamon.
Frozen Banana Pops
Prep time: 2 hours
Servings: 8
- 4 large bananas, peeled
- 8 wooden ice pop sticks
- 2 cups vanilla non-fat Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup creamy natural peanut butter
- Cut each banana in half and carefully insert wooden ice pop stick in bottom of each, about one-third into banana. Place bananas on large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze bananas until partially frozen, about 30 minutes.
- Carefully dip each banana in tall pint glass of vanilla yogurt to coat, leaving 1/2-inch at bottom of banana uncoated. Return yogurt-coated bananas to parchment paper-lined baking sheet and freeze until completely firm, about 1 hour.
- Microwave peanut butter until smooth and creamy, about 30-45 seconds. Drizzle peanut butter evenly over bananas then place on baking sheet to freeze until peanut butter is firm, about 30 minutes.
- Serve immediately or wrap each banana in plastic wrap and store in freezer up to 3 months.
Get more ideas to get kids cooking and snacking smart at milkmeansmore.org.
SOURCE:
United Dairy Industry of Michigan
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