Easy Healthy Kids Snacks

At a young age, nutritions snacks are important for development and growth. Healthy snacks can provide an alternative to junk foods that kids may otherwise consume between meals. According to "What to Expect" author Heiki Murkoff, two to three healthy snack servings can prevent your child from overeating and gaining weight.

Guacamole & Tortilla Chips

• Preparing your own simple guacamole dip provides a good source of heathy fats for your kids. Instead of dipping the guacamole with greasy potato chips, accompany the guacamole with tortilla chips, carrot slices, celery sticks, bell peppers and cucumbers. Avoid enhancing flavor with sour cream, as this will increase the calorie and fat content of the snack. Add a squeeze of lemon to create more healthy and flavorful dips.

Muffins

• Although larger-portioned muffins are not considered healthy, "mini" muffins with alternative low-fat and good cholesterol ingredients can turn a tasty snack into a healthy one. Replace fatty butters and oils with heart-healthy oils. low-fat butter and milk. Add purred vegetables and fruits such as carrots, blueberries, apples, pears and prunes to provide a natural dose of sugar flavoring. "Parents" magazine suggests using sweet potatoes, bananas and zucchini as muffin flavorings.

"Ants on a Log"

• The easy-to-prepare "Ants on a Log" snack consists of celery sticks with peanut butter spread and sprinkled with raisins. Depending on the age of your child, you may want to leave the raisins off if they pose a choking hazard. "Ants on a Log" is an appealing and fun snack for kids that provides them with the nutritional requirements of protein and fiber that will allay their hunger between meals.

Fruit Salads & Cottage Cheese with Fruit

• A mixture of different fruits can provide a visually appealing snack full of colors that your kid may enjoy. Not only is a fruit salad or fruit bowl with cottage cheese easy to prepare, it is filled with nutrients and vitamins such as vitamin C, fiber and protein for your growing child. Fill the fruit bowl with sliced apples, bananas, pineapples, peaches, oranges and other fruits your kid will love. Low-fat cottage cheese on the side provides a fun and healthy way for children to dip their fruits.