Snack time is the best time to squeeze an extra serving of fruit or vegetables into your child's diet. While many pre-packaged children's snacks are filled with unhealthy sugars and artificial colors, there are plenty of ways to get creative with fresh, wholesome foods that will nourish your kids' minds and bodies. Fruit snacks, crackers, juices, and cookies come in fun colors and shapes that kids find irresistible. With so many unhealthy options being marketed directly to children, it can be tough to resist buying the convenient snacks your kids beg for every time you go to the market. Fortunately, there are many tasty, healthy, easy-to-prepare snacks that your kids will love just as much as the sugar-packed junk sold at the store. Healthy snacks help your kids stay full, focused, and nourished between meals, and you can feel good about letting your children chow down on these delicious, kid-friendly snacks.

1 - Hummus and Veggies

Hummus is an excellent source of protein, and it makes a great dip for carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers. Most kids love dipping their food, so this healthy snack serves as an excellent replacement for chips and dip. Hummus is made from antioxidant-rich chickpeas, and you can add basil pesto or red pepper paste to improve the flavor. The best part about this snack is that it's easy to pack in a lunchbox, and you can enjoy it with your child too. 

2 - Nut Butter and Apples

If your child has a sweet tooth, there's no better snack to satisfy it than nut butter and apple slices. When you spread it on top of crunchy sweet apple slices, nut butter is a healthy source of protein for your child. The delicious apple slices offer the texture, crunch, and sweetness your child craves. This snack is easy to prepare, easy to pack, and affordable, making it an excellent choice for your child at any time. Apples and nut butter can replace unhealthy treats like peanut butter cookies and wafers. Obviously many children can feature nut allergies, so this kind of snack may be ideal for outings just with the family, rather than at school. 

3 - Smoothies

You'd be hard-pressed to find a kid who would turn down a smoothie, especially in the summer. Ice-cold smoothies are an excellent snack for picky eaters who struggle to consume enough fruits and vegetables. Spinach, plain yogurt, almond milk, and a few types of fruit are all you need to make a healthy smoothie for your child. It's best to skip out on fruit juice when making smoothies to avoid the added sugar. Honey can be used as a sweetener if needed, but using an ample amount of fruit in the smoothie should render it perfectly sweet.

4 - Sugar-Free Oatmeal Cookies

Cookies are a childhood favorite. With sugar-free, banana-based oatmeal cookies, you don't have to cut out cookies completely to keep your kids healthy. All you need to make these delicious cookies is mashed banana, rolled oats, coconut oil, and vanilla extract. Bake and enjoy. You can also add dried fruit for extra sweetness and texture. With no refined sugar or flour to worry about, you and your kids can enjoy these cookies without tanking your health.