Healthy snacks for children

How much should my child eat per day?

Three main meals: In the morning, at midday and in the evening there should be a main meal for your child – many families usually eat a hot main meal at midday, and cold meals in the morning and evening. It's best to avoid raw vegetables before bedtime, as they are harder to digest. Also try to keep regular meal times – this ensures your child is supplied with energy evenly throughout the day. Regular times also promote a healthy biorhythm and create structure in your daily life together. Between meals, however, breaks of two to three hours are important.
Two snacks: For in between, you can offer your child healthy snacks, such as fruit, raw vegetables, muesli with milk or yogurt. A good mix of carbohydrates, vitamins and nutrients ensures that your child gets everything they need for their development and growth.
Five portions of fruit and vegetables: Over the course of the day, nutrition experts recommend about five portions of fruit and vegetables. That's of course a guideline. If you sometimes don't manage to include something fresh in every meal, it's not immediately harmful to your child.

Colorful children's tableware for snacks and small meals

Creative and quick to make: Ideas for healthy snacks for children

Children would probably already be happy if they were allowed to snack on a small sweet or nibble on some chips now and then. Occasionally that's fine. However, it's important that these snacks remain the exception.Healthy snacks for children don't necessarily have to be elaborate and can usually be prepared very quickly.Pay particular attention to your child's age. Can their little teeth already chew crunchy vegetables, or should it perhaps be a tasty fruit puree or yogurt for now? Maybe your child is already old enough to help you with the preparation? Then eating it afterwards is all the more fun. Let our snack ideas inspire you!

Popcorn:This healthy snack is very easy to prepare. Put a little cooking oil or coconut oil in a pot and add the corn kernels. Caution: Usually a smaller amount of kernels is sufficient than you think. Then quickly put the lid on the pot and wait for them to pop. This part is especially exciting for children. When the first kernels have popped, you can turn down the heat. Put the finished, still-warm popcorn into a bowl and sprinkle with a little salt or brown sugar as desired.

Homemade ice cream:Peel two to three bananas and place them in a sealed plastic bag in the freezer. After about two hours you can take the banana slices out and blend them together with frozen berries, some plain yogurt, and honey in a blender or with an immersion blender until creamy. You have a delicious ice cream that can be adjusted and varied to taste.

Vegetable sticks:Even the biggest vegetable haters will give in to finely cut raw vegetables. Simply cut fresh vegetables like cucumbers, bell peppers, or carrots into hand- and mouth-sized pieces. If the vegetables shouldn't be in stick form, you can also chop small pieces and thread them onto skewers. Just be especially careful that your child doesn't get hurt on the tip.Quick tip:Offer a new type of vegetable from time to time so that your child's taste develops in a varied way.

Fun sandwich:Topped whole-grain bread or toast doesn't always have to be the boring square shape. Simply topped with low-fat cold cuts or cheese and a few cucumbers and lettuce leaves, you can create great works of art with extra-large cookie cutters. How about, for example, a cheese sandwich in the shape of a tractor or a sandwich that has the outline of a star?

Healthy fast food:Your child will probably not say no to hamburgers and fries. Try a healthy alternative with a fast-food look: cut the apple into fries and a bit of strawberry sauce makes a decent portion of ketchup. Using rice cakes or whole-grain rolls, between which you layer fruit or vegetables in slices, you can quickly create a healthy burger that your child will surely enjoy.

Apple chips:Baked apple rings are an exciting alternative to fresh apples for children. They are a sugar-free alternative to potato chips and also very easy to make yourself. For this you only need a little patience. To prepare, wash a few apples, core them, and cut the apples into as thin slices as possible. Arrange these side by side on a baking sheet—it's best to fill several sheets at once, as the chips keep well for a few days. Then let the apple rings dry in the oven at 70 °C with top and bottom heat for six to eight hours. After that the apple chips are ready to eat. This snack is especially popular with both parents and children. Enjoy!