Snacks

Every parent strives to serve healthy snacks, and it's pretty easy to whip up healthy snacks for kids when they're at home. But what about those days when your child is at school? Here are some quick and easy healthy school snacks to make for your children, so you know they're eating well even when you're not there.

Celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins -- or "Ants on a Log" as they're fondly referred to by kids of all ages -- are a nutritious, healthy snack that can be made into a fun do-it-yourself project for kids at lunchtime. Simply slice celery sticks into easy-to-hold sections and place them into a reusable container; then pack a serving of peanut butter and a handful of raisins, and spoon to spread, and they're all set for a delicious school snack. For a new twist, try substituting Craisins instead of raisins.

Bring the outdoors in with this yummy homemade Trail Mix, a nutritious, delicious, healthy snack that will keep the kids going through the midday snack attack. Wheat germ and almonds are great sources of vitamins and minerals necessary for healthy growth, including calcium for strong bones and protein for energy.

Nothing says "I love you" in a kid's lunchbox quite the same way as fresh, homemade baked goods. Make these Quick Blueberry Muffins in mini-muffin pans for portable, two-bite healthy snacks kids will love. Brown sugar, orange peel and fresh blueberries make these treats extra moist, and your homemade touch makes them extra special. For additional nutritional value and crunch, sprinkle sliced almonds on top right before baking.

These Spicy Popcorn Balls are a smart way to turn ho-hum popcorn into a crunchy, flavorful, healthy snack that wakes up the tastebuds. If it's too hot for your little ones, you can turn down the heat by replacing the chili powder with their favorite finely chopped dried fruit. The mix will be sticky when they're ready to be formed into balls, so be sure to work quickly and make sure your ice cream scoop is coated with enough oil so they won't stick.

Liven up those carrot sticks or apple wedges with a dip that's easy to make and pack in your child's lunchbox. This Peanutty Dip does the trick with a bonus: It's a healthy snack that's much more nutritious than those packets of instant, sour cream-based dips. Peanut butter supplies energy-boosting protein, while plain yogurt brings calcium to the mix and honey adds a touch of natural sweetness. Be sure to buy yogurt with that's marked "Contains live cultures," as live cultures help regulate digestion and are generally the sign of a quality product.

These healthy snacks for kids are easy to make, and so yummy you won't have to worry about your kids trading theirs for unhealthy store-bought snacks.

Guacamole: It's fun to say and easy to make. A favorite friend of the tortilla chip, the bright green dip is also an eye-catching visual magnet that is sure to attract attention on any party table. Just toss together a few basic ingredients and mix, mash or blend, and Ole! You've got a basic guacamole recipe that can kick-start an instant fiesta. Master the basics of guacamole and you can create a fresh and flavorful treat in little more time than it takes to say...well...guacamole.

The basic guacamole recipe hasn't changed much since the Aztecs first began making the creamy green mixture in central Mexico centuries ago. The original concoction of avocado, lime juice and salt has since evolved to include tomato, onion, peppers and cilantro. Garlic is a common modern ingredient but was not originally utilized.

If you're the parent to a picky eater, you already know: getting kids to eat healthy foods can be a challenge. When your five-year-old is in their "only-white-foods" phase (read: lots of refined sugar, not enough nutrients), it's enough to make you give up. Relax. These quick healthy food ideas will get even the die-hard junk-food fan to gobble up some of the good stuff, guaranteed.

Spiced-Up Popcorn
If your picky eater is over the age of 4, this snack is the perfect go-to healthy food pick (parents with younger children beware: popcorn could be a choking hazard). Popcorn is relatively high in fiber and low in calories. Try upping the ante by sprinkling the popcorn with Parmesan cheese or cinnamon and sugar.

Super Soy
Protein-rich edamame is a delicious snack for nutrient-adverse kids. Sprinkle the pods with a bit of salt for a salty-sweet combo. Plus, popping them out of the shell can be pretty fun. If you've got a toddler, opt for the pre-shelled beans at the market.

It can be a loooooooong stretch between meals sometimes, especially if you're sitting at a desk with your stomach growling at you. Snacks can be a really important part of a healthy diet - smaller, more frequent portions of healthy food can help keep your metabolism more even, keep you more alert and focused, and keep you from binging on less-than-healthy snacks.

So what kind of snacks are good for adults (and of course are good for kids too!)? Look for things that have as little processing and processed ingredients as possible, but that are portable and mostly ready-to-eat without a lot of preparation.

Fruit - Fresh or dried. Fruit is a good source of fiber, which takes your body longer to digest and therefore keeps you feeling full longer. If it's not feasible to keep fresh fruit around, dried fruit will work too - plus, you don't have to worry about it spoiling in your drawer or being in season. Do remember that one of the other benefits of snacking on fresh fruit is its high water content, so when you eat dried fruit instead, be sure to drink lots of water too.

When you think crock pot you think ... dessert? Drinks? How about appetizers? Yes, it's true -- that same trusty cooking device that makes dinner so easy can also create fantastic first and final courses. It's easy to find crock pot recipes that take you beyond pot roast and into the realm of cobblers, cocktails and even brownies.

There are more crock pot recipes out there for desserts than you might think, and they range from the elegant to the down-home. We like this cobbler recipe, which calls for blueberries but could also be great with peaches, either fresh or frozen, or even some cherries. The ingredients are super-simple -- think the basics like flour, eggs, oil and milk -- and it cooks in about two hours with little or no prep time involved. Serve it with some ice cream on the side and you have a yummy treat, no matter what the season.

It's a known fact that kids love brownies, and it's also a known fact that moms and dads don't always have time to bake. How about crock pot recipes for brownies? There are plenty of versions out there, whether you like them plain, extra-chocolaty or with nuts. Try Crock Pot Walnut Brownies from Crock Pot Easy Recipes, which cooks in just 90 minutes. Don't like nuts? Try this recipe for crock pot brownies from Pioneer Homemaker. So why make brownies in the crock pot when you can get them out of the oven in 30 minutes? Easy -- you can put these ingredients together and leave them to cook on their own while you do chores, run errands or even before you go to work in the morning. Then you have a tasty treat waiting for you when you get home!