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School Time and After School Snacks

Most schools have a daily Snack Time that children really look forward to. This creates yet another challenge to lunch box packing. Kids also look for snacks as soon as they get home from school to recharge their batteries.

To make sure your kids don't feast on candy bars and chips, here are easy-to-fix snacks to help you serve up fun, tasty, and healthy foods.

Some quick and easy great tasting snacks:

Super Snack Mix:

Combine all or some of these ingredients:
Small pretzels, banana chips, goldfish, cashews, small bite-size cereals (such as cheerios or rice chex, raisins, and a few M&M's), put in a plastic bag, shake and eat.

Yes, this recipe does contain some fat and some chocolate, but packing this snack may actually get your kids to eat raisins. Unfortunately most of us must realize that although those raisin packages alone are a healthy snack, they usually get traded, and traded and (oops!) eventually tossed!!!

Sliced Veggie Snack

Slice up your child's favorite fresh vegetables such as carrot sticks, red peppers, green peppers, yellow squash -- make a batch, put in separate plastic bags, then you can have snacks for a few days.

Grab and go

When your kids need a before, between, or after-meal treat pronto, these quick-to-fix snacks fit the bill.

• PB&J crackers. Smear a reduced-salt cracker with your kid's favorite peanut butter spread and any flavor jelly or jam. (Note: Some children may be allergic to peanut butter.)

• Make-it-yourself. Combine equal amounts of raisins, dried dates, unsalted pretzels, and your child's favorite reduced-sugar cereal for a tasty trail mix. Store in an airtight container. (Note: The raisins and any other small items in the mix could cause choking in children younger than three or four.)

• Pretzels. Add no-salt Dutch pretzels or whole-grain pretzel sticks to your grocery list.

• Cereal and juice. A surefire snack hit are quick-serve cereals and 100 percent fruit juice packs. Buy the mixed variety single-serve cereal packets. You might also want to freeze the juice packs for an icy treat or partially freeze the fruit juice and then blend it with fresh fruits or drained, juice-packed canned fruits for a refreshing slushy drink. (Note: Juice packs, water bottles, and other fluids help keep kids hydrated and refreshed during the warm weather. So keep plenty of fluids on hand.)

• Pudding cups and crackers. Single-serving pudding cups with graham cracker chasers are another satisfying kid-approved treat. Get the prepackaged containers that you can pop the lid and eat. (Note: Refrigerate or throw out any leftovers.)

• Fruit in a cup. Fruit is always a nutritious snack. Keep a store of individual-sized fruit cups, packed in natural juices and serve with animal crackers. (Remember to toss or refrigerate any fruit-cup leftovers.)

• Fresh fruit. Apples, bananas, oranges, peaches, and other seasonal fruit are always great to have on hand. They're healthy, nutritious, and come nature-made, in handy single-serving portions. Try to always keep a supply in store.

• Sticks with dip. Try carrot sticks for crunch appeal. Thoroughly clean and dry an empty yogurt container and lid. Pour a small amount of light salad dressing in the bottom of the container and stack carrot sticks or baby carrots on top.

• Bread and cheese. Slice reduced-fat mozzarella, cheddar, or your cheesy favorite into long strips and serve with plain bread sticks.

• Cookies and cream. For another easy fix, serve low-fat, flavored yogurt cups with chewy oatmeal or any other cookie variety.

• Cheesy bagels. A satisfying snack: Top a mini-bagel with light cream cheese and a sprinkle of raisins.