Healthy Snacks for Kids

Crispy Rice Treats

The original recipe is full of highly processed foods, sugar and fats that result in a snack with empty calories. This alternative has plenty of fiber, less sugar and no butter.

Ingredients:

2 cups crispy rice cereal
1 cup quick cooking oats
1/4 cup wheat bran
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup lite peanut butter (soy nut butter or almond butter will also work)
1/4 cup mixed dried fruit in bite-size pieces
1 Tbs. vanilla extract

Preparation:

In a large bowl, combine the cereal, oats, bran and dried fruit. Mix the corn syrup and sugar in a pot and heat over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved.

Add the peanut butter and mix. When well combined, turn off the heat and add the vanilla.

Pour the mixture over the cereal and blend. Press mixture into a pan and cut into bars. It should keep for a month in a sealed container.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup sugar alternative
3/4 cup evaporated milk
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2 Tbs. lite peanut butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. chocolate extract
1/2 Tbs. cornstarch

Preparation:

Combine sugar alternative, milk and cocoa powder in a pot over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and extracts.

If the mixture needs a bit of thickening, add the cornstarch and return to the heat for a minute or two, stirring constantly until mixture thickens. It should have a pudding-like consistency. Serve with fresh fruit.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup wheat and barley cereal
3 Tbs. pecans
1 banana
12 strawberries
24 wooden picks
1/3 cup yogurt (You can use low-fat, fruit-flavored yogurt if desired.)

Preparation:

Combine cereal and chopped pecans on a large plate. Cut banana into bite-size pieces.

Insert a skewer into each strawberry and banana piece. Dip the fruit first in the yogurt and then roll in the nut mixture. Freeze.