Easy, nutritious ideas to tide kids over till dinnertime:
Unsweetened applesauce
Dehydrated fruits and vegetables (tomatoes, peas, corn, bananas, apples, mangoes, vegetable blends)
Rice cakes topped with light vegetable cream cheese
Low-fat granola with low-fat milk
Toasted whole wheat pita triangles with light herbed cheese (such as The Laughing Cow)
Cucumber boats filled with part-skim ricotta cheese and Parmesan cheese
Dried figs stuffed with light strawberry cream cheese
Watermelon wedges dipped in low-fat vanilla yogurt
Baked corn chips with fat-free black bean dip or warmed vegetarian refried beans
Baby carrots, bell pepper strips, celery sticks and zucchini sticks dipped in hummus
Sliced apples with cubed cheddar cheese
Cubed cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon
Dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, cherries, mangoes, pineapple, apricots, blueberries) mixed with nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts, pistachios, pecans, walnuts)
Whole wheat pretzel sticks dipped in nut butter
Graham cracker sandwiches made with hazelnut spread
Whole grain, low-sugar cereal with low-fat milk
Guacamole with baked tortilla chips
Whole grain crackers with low-fat cottage cheese and sliced (oil packed) sundried tomatoes
Robin Miller is a nutritionist, host of Quick Fix Meals, author of “Robin Rescues Dinner” and the busy mom of two active little boys. Her boys and great food are her passion. Check her out at www.robinrescuesdinner.com.
