Post-Holiday Healthy Snack Ideas

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• You can get back to healthy eating even if junk food has infiltrated your home over the holidays.
• Get your family back on track track with wholesome snack options that will help them recharge.
• Toss the candy and junk food and replace it with helathy and wholesome alternatives.

If you’re like most of us, junk food has infiltrated your home over the holidays.

But good news is here! We have a post-holiday snack reset plan for you. When the kids get home from school and head to the kitchen, you’ll be ready with wholesome options. These late-afternoon snacks help kids recharge after a long day at school, which can help them focus on homework and also get their normal diet back on track.

When you’re packing up the ornaments and putting away the decorations, you have our permission to toss the candy canes, caramel corn, and chocolates as well. Soften the blow for the kiddoes by stocking your fridge and pantry with these healthy and wholesome alternatives:

Sweet Cravings

• If your child has a sweet tooth, offer snacks that have sweet flavor, but with some nutritional value, such as yogurt with fresh fruit or raisins mixed in.
• You can also mix in almonds, seeds or granola for fun textures. Or just place slices or bunches of fruits in a bowl in the fridge or counter for easy access.
• Clementines are a great winter fruit that is easy to grab, peel, and eat when you’re in a hurry.

Popping Fun

• Air-popped or low-fat microwave popcorn is a high fiber snack choice.
• Mix it up by adding seasonings like garlic powder, nutritional yeast, ranch powder, Parmesan cheese, and even sugar-free Jell-O powder.
• Turn popcorn into a healthy trail mix by adding nuts, dried fruit or whole grain cereal to make the snack more substantial.

Dipping Veggies

• Cut fresh, raw veggies into sizes that are easy for kids to grab and eat quickly, such as carrot sticks, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, sugar snap peas, and celery.
• Make them more appealing by placing veggies with dips that are low in fat and sodium.
• Don’t be afraid to branch out from regular salad dressing or cheese dips — hummus is one that adds variety and contains healthy fat and protein, or peanut-dipping sauce is another tasty alternative.

Wholesome Whole Grains

• Whole wheat (or other whole grain) bread or bagels are a great option. These healthy breads can be paired with low sodium lunchmeats or peanut butter with fruit spreads that are naturally sweet. Try to avoid jams or jellies that have high amounts of sugar or high fructose corn syrup.
• Whole grain, low-fat crackers or pretzels are good sources of fiber and are easy snacks. You can also top brown rice cakes with peanut butter or lean meat and cheese for a filling snack.
• Unsweetened whole grain cereal is another option and is extra appetizing with fresh fruit like bananas, strawberries or blueberries.

Dairy Options

• Keep reduced fat or light string cheese in the fridge for a quick source of calcium and protein.
• Make miniature pizzas on bagels by adding spaghetti or pizza sauce along with reduced-fat cheese and toppings. Bake in the toaster or regular oven until the cheese has melted.
• Yogurt smoothies are a nutritious treat. Combine low-fat with fresh or frozen fruit. Experiment with fiber and protein-rich add-ins like chia seeds, nuts, veggies, or oats.

We hope the coming year is a happy and healthy one for you and your family.

For More Information:

After-School Snacks