If you’re a mum on the run, you’ll be used to having to grab food whilst you’re on the go. Most mums will have to snack throughout the day, as they’ll be peckish and they’ll be in a rush. But snacking is also important for your little ones, so it’s important that you learn how to plan and make healthy snacks. The best snacks for children are those that are portable, so we’ve come up with some tasty, portable,and healthy snacks that both you and your little one can enjoy.

Yoghurt

A great healthy snack for both mums and children, yoghurt is a great source of calcium – important for healthy teeth and bones, and also a great source of protein – meaning that a snack of yoghurt will help to keep you full until you can eat a full meal. Opt for natural yoghurts where possible without added sugar, as these will be better for both you and your children.

If non-sweetened yoghurt doesn’t sound like something you’d enjoy, you could sweeten it up at home with a little honey, natural sweetener or some chopped fresh fruit. Just be sure not to give honey to youngsters under the age of 1, as it contains bacteria that could be potentially harmful to those under 12 months.

Reduced fat yoghurts are recommended for both mums and children, especially if you are a mum trying to lose weight as low fat dairy products are known to aid weight loss. However, under the age of two, it’s recommended that your little one have full fat dairy products as they do contain more calcium, vitamins and nutrients – and for the sake of a few calories, it’s better for your little one to have more nutrients than not!

Veggies sticks and dips

It’s very common for mums to be concerned about how many vegetables their children are eating. But you can get your little one to eat more vegetables and you can do it quite easily – hide them, and make eating them fun! This healthy snack is also a great way to up your veggie intake.
For your dips, you could blend beans or chickpeas – both great sources of fibre – until smooth, then flavour them with lemon, salt, pepper, spices or fresh herbs. You could freeze these dips in ice cube trays then simply defrost them overnight – simple!

For a dip filled with veggies, try blending your favourite vegetable into yoghurt, low fat cream cheese or ricotta. You could also grate or finely chop veggies and stir them into whatever you fancy – the combinations are quite literally endless. And the more vegetables you put into the dip, the more vegetables your little ones will eat!

If you prefer, you can buy dips from the supermarket – just opt for dips that are low sodium, low fat and low in additives.

Fruit

A rather easy and healthy snack for kids and mums alike is fruit. Fruit is super portable, and the sweet flavour of most fruits will attract your children. Stick to fresh fruit where possible as it is lower in sugar and calories – plus, if your little one eats too much dried fruit they could wind up with a stomach ache. Guidelines recommend that if your little one is under the age of 4, they should eat between 1-2 portions of fruit every day.

Eggs

Boiled eggs are an excellent healthy snack for babies over 9 months (egg yolks, over 12 months for egg whites) and for mums too. Pop them ready-boiled into your lunchbox or chop them into salads or sandwich fillings. They are super high in protein, which will keep you fuller for longer, and they are also low in fat, too.

This article was written by Elisha Danine, a health writer and nutritionist for the Lose Baby Weight website. For more healthy snack ideas, eating tips, recipes and weight loss plans please visit the Lose Baby Weight site and join the Lose Baby Weight Facebook page with 50,000 other mums

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