Sugar Free Snacks For Kids

Sugar Free Snacks For Kids – Healthy Snacks That Your Child Will Love

In our modern society we all too often equate treats and snacks with sugar – think muffins, biscuits, cakes, crisps and chocolate, things generally packed to the rafters with bad fats, loaded with sugar and wrapped in plastic.

So when you, or your child, are trying to cut down your sugar intake, it can seem like an uphill challenge to find a healthy snack.

If your New Year’s resolution is to encourage your child to eat less sugar, then you might be tearing your hair out already and we’re only 3 weeks into January. So, rather than simply bulk buying sugar free chocolate (which of course is an easy option), we’ve compiled a list of super tasty, sugar free snack suggestions that your child will love.

• Yoghurt

Yoghurt is an excellent sugar-free snack to give your kids (as long as you choose the natural yoghurt that is, the plain one, not the stuff marketed to kids that is full of sugar). If they aren’t convinced, let them drizzle some honey into it, or slice some fresh fruit.

Yoghurt is a superfood containing protein and calcium – essential to fill hungry tummies and feed developing bones. Plus, some yoghurts also contain live cultures meaning they’re great for your kid’s digestive system too.

• Smoothies

What a great way to get a lot of fruit and vegetables into your child’s diet with minimal fuss. They’ll love adding the smoothie ingredients to a blender and then watching it all whizz up, then slurping it from a glass through a straw.

Make sure you choose a reusable straw or a paper one, you don’t want to encourage your kids to use single use plastic after all.

If the smoothie is too thick, simply water it down with a little milk, not fruit juice, as fruit juice contains high levels of sugar.

• Popcorn

Popcorn may have unhealthy connotations, but it is in fact a really super snack. It is a nutritious grain that, if you don’t smother in butter or coat in sugar, is a really healthy treat for your kids.

Simply pop some kernels, grate some parmesan cheese on top and you have a go to treat that you’ll all love.

• Fruit and peanut butter

What better way to encourage your kids to eat fruit than by dipping it in protein rich peanut butter?

Want to get more vegetables into your children? Dip carrot sticks or celery into the peanut butter instead.

Both combos are a wonderful balance of carbohydrates, proteins and good fats – everything a growing child needs. Remember to choose the peanut butter made without sugar though.

• Trail mix

What kid doesn’t love the random nature of good ol’ trail mix? Don’t purchase a commercial one though, they tend to be laden with sugar and contain chocolate pieces. Instead, make your own at home.

You can include raisins, dried fruits such as apricots, apple slices, even bananas, mixed nuts, pieces of granola, popped quinoa, anything you fancy really. Pop it all in a big bowl and encourage your kids to fill up on handfuls of it.

Guest Article.