Beat the summertime binge eating with these healthy snacks that kids will love.
Now that summer is here, many kids will likely sit in front of the television and eat just because they are bored. This can lead to overeating, especially of unhealthy junk food, that in turn leads to weight gain. Not only is weight gain a problem, but you also want to know that your child is getting enough of the nutrients that he needs on a daily basis, and many junk foods only offer empty calories with no nutrition.
Whether you are concerned about watching your child's weight and eating habits, or just want some healthy alternatives to the traditional chips and ice cream, here are 30 super-quick, great snacks that are 100 calories or less. All you need is a fresh supply of snack sized zip-lock baggies and any of the foods listed below. Just like the 100 Calorie Packs offered by Nabisco, these snacks are great for trips, watching television, and satisfying the sweet tooth.
30 100-Calorie Favorite Picks
1 small orange
1 cup watermelon
2/3 cup Cocoa Puffs cereal
13 animal crackers
15 mini carrots
3/4 oz. cheddar cheese
3 tablespoons raisins
2 Twizzlers
6 reduced fat Triscuits
7/8 cup of Cheerios (any flavor)
1 cup celery slices
2/3 cup mini marshmallows
12 rice mini cakes (any flavor)
1 cheese stick with 2 slices shaved ham
1 medium apple sliced
2 cups blackberries
3/4 cup of any bran cereal
20 pieces candy corn
2 cups cantaloupe cubed
2 fig bars
4 large graham crackers (perforated)
10 large jelly beans
10 cashew nuts
5 Nilla Wafers
8 gum drops
9 Tootsie Roll Midgees
29 pistachios
28 grapes
15 strawberries sliced
1 slice angel food cake (2-inch)
You can come up with many more snack ideas that are 100 calories or less by reading the nutrition label on food packages and portioning out the amount that makes 100 calories or less. There are plenty of other healthy snack ideas just waiting to be discovered. Of course, the Nabisco 100 Calorie Packs offer lots of great choices, too. They are low in fat and still taste like the real thing.
Here some other great combinations that make great 100 calorie snacks, but won't fit in a zip-lock baggie!
Baked Potato Snack
1/2 cup salsa
2 tablespoons non-fat sour cream
1 small baked potato
Apple Snack
1/2 small apple
2 teaspoons peanut butter
Yogurt Snack
Any light brand of yogurt
Chocolate Delight
6 tablespoons whipped cream
3/4 teaspoons Hershey's cocoa
Blend until creamy
Waffle Snack
1 Nutri-Grain Low Fat Whole Wheat Waffle
1 tablespoon Smucker's Squeeze (any flavor)
Veggie Tray
1/4 cup fat-free ranch dressing
Raw vegetables (broccoli and cauliflower are very low in calories)
Dunkin Toast
1/3 cup of unsweetened applesauce
1 slice of whole-wheat toast, cut into 4 strips for dunking
The copyright of the article 100 Calorie Snacks for Tweens in Parenting Tweens is owned by Denise Oliveri. Permission to republish 100 Calorie Snacks for Tweens must be granted by the author in writing.