Suitable snacks for school and beyond!
September 19, 2020
Schools started, the second month of autumn made its appearance and the parents' reflection began again on a very popular topic for the season: What snack should I give my child at school?
First of all, let's say that as snacks we define the small meals that we consume between the main meals. We usually refer to the tenth time, the afternoon and for some also before bed. These should be foods that are part of a balanced diet. Some people mainly due to hunger or not knowing what to choose, most of the time end up with something unhealthy, with high caloric content and fat.
For children especially, the school snack that follows a healthy breakfast is essential so that they can perform properly and have energy throughout the day. You don't always have to stick to one or two specific snacks because it will be logical for children to get bored and look for healthier solutions.
So use your imagination and with the options we will suggest below, combine and prepare nutritious snacks that will pleasantly surprise you and your children!
- Sandwiches – change the classic bread with: Brioche bread, sesame bun, cornbread, Arabic pies, Cypriot pies or cut the classic bread into various favorite shapes of children (star, heart, teddy bear, etc.)
Fill them with me: Kasseri-Turkey, Cream Cheese-Turkey-Tomato, Chicken-Mustard-Vegetables, Kasseri-Egg-Tomato, Tuna-Lettuce-Tomato, Olive Paste-Tomato-Feta Cheese, etc.
- Sweet sandwiches: Peanut butter-Banana-Honey, Butter-Jam/Honey, Tahini-Honey, Tahini with cocoa, Tahini-Honey-Banana-Cinnamon
- Raisin Bread or Raisin Bun
- 1 handful Unsalted nuts and fresh or dried fruit
- Homemade plain, mixed, carrot cake with walnuts and cinnamon
- Salty cake
- Pastaflora with homemade jam
- Homemade Apple Pie
- Homemade Pizza with dough or pizza ingredients on a skewered pita
- Homemade Cereal Bars or Oatmeal Cookies with Juice
- Rice crackers, corn chips or crackers with fruit or juice
- Kritsini (sesame, multi-seeded, corn) with triangles of cheese or turkey
- Vegetable sticks – Fruit salad plain or with Honey and cinnamon
- Vegetable-Fruit Skewers
- Homemade Compote with various fruits
- Homemade pie (Cheese-Spinach Pie, Eggplant Pie, etc.)
- 1 small Pasteli (sesame, nuts)
- Yoghurt with fruit or croutons
- Mustache curls
- Individual bun
- Boiled corn
- Boiled chestnuts
Don't forget it Water! Not only nutrition is important, but also hydration. Therefore, make sure that the child always has a bottle or a water bottle of his choice with him.
The appearance in the children's snack plays a special appearance in order to arouse his interest and consume it. Experiment and let the child try new flavors and combinations that you might not think he will like.
Present them beautifully, let him participate in the preparation, show him the right food choices through play, and of course buy him a beautiful topper to store his snack!
Stelina Vassiliadis
Dietitian-Nutritionist, MSc Medical School, University of Glasgow