Healthy snacks that kids can make and take to school

Happy National Trail mix Day!  Kids and parents enjoy trail mix as a quick snack.  And it can be a very healthy snack too.

Get the kids involved and make your own trail mix!  Not only is it a great way to teach your children about a healthy snack but you can save some money making it yourself.

Depending on your mix, usually about 1/4 cup of trailmix will contain about 175 calories.  So although it is packed with nutrition, you are not meant to eat handfuls of this.  You really want to watch the portion sizes.

To help with portion control, you will need some small ziplock baggies to put your trail mix inside.  Just put a 1/4 cup of trailmix into the small baggie and it is perfectly portioned for a healthy snack.

You can add to your child's lunchbox or as an after school snack.

Here is a list of common ingredients to choose from and then just mix it together in a bowl.  And whaa la! you have trailmix.  And even young kids can help with this recipe.

Some tips:  choose raw or roasted unsalted nuts so it is lower in salt and fat

Choose from:

• cashews,
• dried cherries
• almonds
• walnuts
• dried apricots
• dried cranberries
• roasted almonds
• dried ginger
• sunflower seeds
• spicy wasabi peas
• pecans
• raisins
• dried figs
• seeds

• dark chocolate chips
• milk chocolate chips
• bittersweet chocolate chips
• coconut flakes
• peanut butter chips

Healthy Snack Food Ideas for Kids