Fun & Easy Snacks to Make

When you're looking for fast and healthy snacks for your children, you can't go wrong with fresh fruit. When kids are craving a sweet treat, hand them fruit rather than baked goods and candy. Cut crisp apples into slices and top them with peanut butter as a satisfying snack. Serve sliced strawberries and grapes alongside a creamy yogurt dip.

One way to tempt a child into eating a healthy sandwich snack is by cutting it into a whimsical shape. Make turkey or ham and cheese sandwiches with creamy dressing or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and remove the crusts. Press a cookie cutter featuring a heart, star or animal-inspired shape into the sandwiches. Use raisins or vegetable slices to decorate the tops of the sandwiches if you desire.

No kid will be able to resist a tasty snack on a stick. Snacks on sticks are easy to eat and make. Slide the preferred bite-sized food items, such as ham and cheese squares or pieces of fruit, onto bamboo skewers. Provide a cup of ranch dressing for dipping. For a warm snack, insert a hot dog onto a stick and wrap it with refrigerated bread stick dough. Bake in the oven until the dough is done.

Kids will enjoy choosing their own smoothie ingredients and watching you prepare them in a blender. Customize your own healthy smoothie recipe using ingredients such as fresh and frozen berries, bananas, orange juice and yogurt. Add protein to the smoothies by blending almond slivers or almond flour into them.