Kashi Snack Bars and Snack Smarts

Kashi has gone beyond cereal and has made healthier snacking much easier for kids and parents alike. This week, my little ones and I have gone through a box of Kashi’s TLC (Tasty Little Chewies) Peanut Peanut Butter granola bars. They’re kinda chewy, kinda crunchy and really delicious. And best of all, unlike most other snacks bars … they’re made without any hydrogenated oils. That’s pretty hard to find. The all-natural ingredients also provide 4g of Fiber and 7g of Protein, making it both a satisfying and filling snack. Give them a try! Beyond making excellent food products, Kashi also doles out great advise. Here are some of Kashi’s healthy snacking suggestions for kids.

Combination is the name of the game

• Combine two or more of the five food groups—dairy, vegetables, fruit, grains, and protein—to make nutrient-rich snacks. For example, apple  slices and all-natural peanut butter are a good combination of the fruit and protein groups, providing carbohydrates for energy and protein for growth, as well as phytonutrients, fiber, iron, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

Healthy snacking tips

• Be creative. Make healthy foods fun by cutting them into shapes and using lots of color.
• Let your kids join in. What is your child’s favorite healthy food? Plan a snack around it.
• Be a good role model. If you snack healthy, your child is more likely to as well.
• Offer snacks no sooner than two hours before mealtime. This way, a child is less likely to be too full for regular meals.

Simple snack ideas

• Banana roll-ups: whole wheat tortilla, all-natural peanut butter, and banana slices
• Cut-up fruit and yogurt dip
• Cut-up veggies and hummus
• Yogurt with crushed whole grain crackers or granola mixed in
• Vegetable soup and whole grain crackers
• Whole grain cereal and low-fat milk
• Quesadilla made with a whole wheat tortilla and beans and/or cheese