{"id":1209,"date":"2024-03-24T21:45:10","date_gmt":"2024-03-24T21:45:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brightstartlouisville.com\/?p=1209"},"modified":"2024-01-13T21:58:30","modified_gmt":"2024-01-13T21:58:30","slug":"kid-friendly-snack-recipes-to-try-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brightstartlouisville.com\/kid-friendly-snack-recipes-to-try-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Kid-Friendly Snack Recipes to Try at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every parent can relate to the frustration of their child frequently asking for a snack. <\/span>While it\u2019s easy enough to provide packaged snacks or easy fruits like apples and bananas, this can get expensive quickly!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Plus, the ingredients and additives in many packaged snacks can make your child\u2019s food cravings and mood swings even worse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dyes like Red #40, Yellow #5, and Blue #1 are found in many packaged snacks, especially those marketed to children because their vibrance is attractive. But these dyes are <\/span>detrimental to human health<\/span><\/a>: they are carcinogenic and are linked to behavior problems, ADD\/ADHD, and so much more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Other ingredients like sugar (and all their lesser-known names), seed oils, preservatives, artificial flavorings, and more, can have negative effects on childhood development, disrupt hormones, increase the risk of obesity, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Makes a Good Snack?<\/span><\/h3>\n

There\u2019s a lot of health and diet advice out there! But basic science concepts can be applied to choosing a healthy snack.<\/span><\/p>\n

We all know that sweet things (sugar and sweeteners, but also substances our bodies process as sugar like wheat and dairy) spike our blood sugar. We get a burst of energy, feel alert, and are in a good mood, but it\u2019s only a matter of time before we feel sluggish and cranky again.<\/span><\/p>\n

This blood sugar roller coaster happens when there isn\u2019t a healthy fat to slow the absorption of sweeteners. Not all fat is bad, and when healthy fats are eaten in moderation, they are <\/span>actually beneficial<\/span><\/a>. Fats keep you full for longer, so you eat less\u2013which is good for your budget and waistline!<\/span><\/p>\n

Not to mention, <\/span>children need healthy fats<\/span><\/a> to grow strong minds and bodies!<\/span><\/p>\n

It can be challenging to get kids to eat healthy fats, so a good snack for children will combine something yummy and fun with a healthy fat or protein.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some fun, yummy, and healthy snacks that your kids will love!<\/span><\/p>\n

Chocolate Hummus<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n

While beans as a sweet dip may sound like a bad mashup, don\u2019t pass this recipe over before giving it a try!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This healthy dip can be served with a variety of sweet and salty dippers like fruit slices, pretzels, or crackers. The protein in the garbanzo beans or chickpeas slows down the sugar in the honey (or fruit dippers) so your child stays full for longer. Just blend these ingredients well:<\/span><\/p>\n