Special Edition April 2020 Meals and Snacks for Kids
By KRNC Staff
As if stay-at-home orders and remote learning aren’t challenging enough, are you also struggling to come up with fun and nutritious meals that your child(ren) will actually eat? Keep reading for quick and easy snack and meal ideas for the whole family, parents included! With any of these ideas, you can adjust portion sizes to fit a snack or meal and your child’s age and appetite. Parents are responsible for what, when, and where to eat. Children are responsible for how much and whether to eat. It may be helpful to start with smaller portions and let your child ask for more food if they are still hungry. If your child is full before they finish their meal, remember you can always put the food they don’t eat in a food storage container for a snack later that day! More information about the division of responsibilities when feeding children.
Snack & Meal Ideas
- Smoothie with frozen fruit and milk or milk substitute. Optional: add in spinach
- String cheese with apple slices or grapes
- Whole wheat tortilla roll-up with peanut butter and banana
- Whole wheat English muffin with a scrambled egg and a slice of cheese and tomato slices
- Whole wheat pita or tortilla with hummus, a slice of cheese, and veggies
- Greek yogurt, fruit, and granola or chopped nuts
- Rice cakes with peanut butter and sliced banana
- Hard-boiled egg with pretzels and bell pepper slices
- Homemade trail mix: dried fruit, nuts, seeds, Cheerios, chocolate chips, etc.
- Cottage cheese with chopped fruit
- Unsweetened applesauce with handful of nuts
- Celery with peanut butter and raisins
- Pasta with veggies, tomato sauce, and cheese
- Homemade granola bar
- Baked tortilla chips and salsa or guacamole
- Corn tortilla quesadilla with black beans
- Edamame, mandarin oranges, and almonds (another option: mix together with cold noodles)
- Hummus with veggies and whole wheat crackers
- Peanut butter and banana sandwich
- Tuna salad with whole wheat crackers and carrots
- Popcorn trail-mix with raisins and peanuts
- Smoothie with banana, peanut butter, milk, and cocoa powder
- Turkey roll up in whole wheat tortilla
- “Lunchable” with whole wheat crackers, turkey, and cheese slices with sliced cucumber
- English muffin or bagel mini pizzas with marinara sauce, mozzarella, and veggies
- No-bake energy bites with oats, peanut butter, cereal, and honey
- Oatmeal with milk and fruit
- Avocado toast with tomato slices
- Fruit salad with lemon-lime yogurt dip
- Roasted chickpeas (flavored with spices) with a side of veggies and dip of choice
- Cucumber and mango slices with lime and chili powder
- Berries dipped in yogurt then frozen
- Tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil skewers
- Crust-less mini quiches: bake eggs and veggies in muffin tins
- Rice cakes topped with smashed avocado and hard-boiled egg slices
- Whole wheat waffle or pancake with cream cheese and fruit slices
- Sliced melon with turkey deli meat and whole wheat crackers
- Smoked salmon or turkey slices and cream cheese on whole wheat bagel
Find more recipes for your family on our Recipes Page!
More Information
For additional resources to healthy eating, check out these programs from our registered dietitian nutritionists. More health tips are also available at the College of Health and Human Sciences Pinterest board. Lastly, don’t forget to sign up for the KRNC monthly newsletter!