Snack time was always my favorite time of the day. I loved it because my mother got me involved in the process. I was always excited to see what she had planned and how I could help her. Now, as a mom; I’m excited to carry on the tradition with my son. I’m eager to teach him that snacks can be healthy and delicious! A great way to incorporate a hands-on activity into your day (that doesn’t require a lot of time or resources) is to involve your child in the snack-making process. Here are five of my favorites!

Peanut Butter Banana Bites

Technically, this snack works well with any kind of nut butter. Using a child-friendly knife, allow your child to slice a large banana in half. Together, spread a thin layer of peanut butter down the center of each banana. Decorate each half with some dark chocolate chips. Serve as is, or strengthen your child’s fine motor skills by allowing them to slice each half into quarter portions. Enjoy!

Cucumber Roll Ups

One of my all-time favorite snacks growing up; a cucumber roll up is basically a sandwich without the bread! Pre-slice a large cucumber into thin, long pieces. Lay them down on paper towels to soak up some moisture. Allow your child to squeeze some mustard on each cucumber strip. Place a piece of meat and a piece of cheese (you may have to cut these into halves to fit the width of the cucumber), and place them on top of the mustard. Then, show your child how to roll them up into a compact cucumber bite. Yum!

Yogurt-Fruit Pizza

Keep the pizza shape, but leave the dough out of it! Together, spread a thin layer of your child’s favorite yogurt on a plate. Be sure to make it in a round shape, just like a pizza crust. Slice up some fruit (like kiwi, strawberries, and bananas), and decorate the yogurt “pie.” Sprinkle a little cinnamon on top, or drizzle a little honey over the fruit. If your child likes coconut, they can sprinkle some on top to make it look like cheese. This is a very healthy, but yummy alternative to traditional pizza!

Avocado Boats

Avocado is loaded with good for you vitamins and nutrients. Tuna has lots of DHA and other oils and minerals that are great for brain development. But, it can be difficult to get your child to eat these two foods separately. So, pair them up and turn them into a “boat.” Explore cutting an avocado into halves. Take out the pit, and gently scoop out the flesh, leaving it in tact as much as possible. Place some tuna in the space where the avocado’s pit used to be. Add a tiny sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese and a pinch of salt and pepper. Voila! You’ve got yourself one tasty treat!

Carrots and “Ranch” Dressing

Ranch dressing is a favorite of kiddos, but it can be high in calories and contain the bad kind of fat. You can use your blender to whip up an equally tasty dressing that will mimic the consistency and taste of ranch dressing. All you need is an avocado, plain Greek yogurt, a little olive oil, and some lemon. Have your child fill your blender with about a quarter cup of olive oil first. Add the juice of a fresh lemon (your child will love squeezing it), and a heaping tablespoon of the yogurt. Toss in the avocado (peeled and pitted of course), and blend away. Your dressing should be thick like ranch dressing, and you can add salt and pepper (or even garlic salt if your child is adventurous) to taste. It’s a wonderful dipping sauce that pairs well with carrots.

Featured Photo Credit- Pinch My Salt