Posted by Savneet Singh on Nov.10, 2010

©iStockphoto.com - Kate_sept2004

A well-balanced meal containing all the nutrients is very important for young children. Preparing healthy breakfasts for kids while rushing to get to work, is very difficult for parents. Breakfast that kids carry to school often does not meet all the nutritional requirements of growing kids.  It has been proved that kids who have a breakfast containing all the essential nutrients, have an overall good health.

Snacks are a great way to cover up  whatever healthy nutrients were missed at the previous meal. But remember an important thing: do not go for  prepackaged and processed snacks. They are high in sugar, salt, artificial flavors, preservatives and fats. Rather, choose fresh food containing  vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber. If you  give your child healthy  snacks according to a set routine everyday, it will be  helpful to  balance  an uneven diet. It will also deals with  snacking on unhealthy food between the meals.

Always try to stick to a regular schedule because kids tend to eat  better if they have a fixed routine. Serve snacks and meals at approximately the same time every day. Plan the things ahead so that you have all that you need to prepare the snack.

Healthy Packets

Bring home some small zip-lock bags and fill with  a handful of nuts, some dried fruits like raisins or apricots, and some dry whole-grain cereals like Cheerios, wheat puffs. Keep them in the cookie jar.

Pita-Pizza

Make traditional pizza in some new and colorful way. Take a small whole wheat pita . Spread peanut butter or 2 tablespoons fruit jam leaving a “crust” at the edges. Cut banana slices and  top pita with  it. You can also use strawberries.

Use a base  a whole-grain English muffin cut half. To make it even more delicious add cream cheese and; walnut and almond slices.

Heart framed Crispy Toast

Cut a crispy wheat bread toast in heart  shape with the help of cookie cutter or knife. Heat a non -stick ovenproof pan with a little oil spray. Heat  to medium-high heat. Beat one egg in a bowl and add a little salt. Now, put the toast in the skillet and  fill the empty space with a beaten egg. Heat for 1-2 minutes on  low heat. Remove from heat and place the skillet under the broiler for  2-3 minutes. Take out when the egg is completely set.

Healthy Pancakes

Kids generally like pancakes a lot. Children like to eat  things which do not make them sit in a dining chair  for long. Your child can eat the pancakes in the car or while playing. The good thing is that, they can easily be made and if you wish you can make them more nutritious easily.  For example you can simply add eggs and milk into the batter. It will add essential proteins and minerals.

Choose the things your child likes and add other nutritional things to that and create your own recipe. You can add bananas, almonds, blueberries,  granola. Mixing  the syrup or honey into the batter  can make it more healthy. To make  pancakes even more interesting and attractive,  use cookie cutters to cut pancakes into shapes or make them colorful by adding natural food coloring.

You can put up a list on the refrigerator door,  stating what all is there in the fridge for the kids. They will snack on that and will avoid the unhealthy munching. Make the small packets in zip-lock bags those are easily accessible for kids.

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Posted under About Mom, Food, Nutrition & Recipes.