Every afternoon, it’s the same ritual: parents search the cupboards in search of the ideal snack — one that will please the children while remaining healthy. Two dieticians share their advice for creating a balanced, simple and delicious snack.
A healthy snack that kids really like
Difficult to find the right compromise between health, practicality and children’s appetite. For Ana Luzón, nutrition and dietetics expert, the answer is obvious: “The answer is… fruit.”
“Fruit is present in my children’s snacks in more than 80% of cases“, she explains to HuffPost Spanish. “Because they are accessible, varied, colorful and they provide fiber, vitamins, minerals and water. But above all, because I want them to understand that fruit is not a ‘healthy punishment’, but a normal part of their diet.“
A point of view shared by Vanessa Bedjaï-Haddad, dietitian-nutritionist:
“As a nutritionist, fruit is a food that I very easily slip into my children’s snacks… and that I recommend to my patients who ask me for their offspring“, she confides. “It’s simple, practical, filling and naturally sweet — everything you need for a balanced snack that’s accepted without question!“
Banana, strawberries, orange or apple: all fruits have their place. “They provide fiber, essential for satiety and digestive health, as well as a good dose of antioxidants and vitamin C.“, recalls Vanessa Bedjaï-Haddad.
But be careful: one piece of fruit alone isn’t always enough to tide over hungry stomachs until dinner. “For a real complete snack, I recommend combining it with a source of protein and/or good fats.“, she adds.
What to accompany the fruit with?
No need to look for complicated recipes. “A few almonds, a square of cheese, a natural yogurt or a small slice of wholemeal bread with almond puree make an excellent combination“, suggests the dietician.”The ideal is to favor foods that are as raw as possible. The idea is not to ‘model’ a perfect model, but to offer the child a snack that nourishes his body, his brain and his pleasure..”
“It is often in these small everyday gestures that good eating habits are anchored, without frustration or blaming speeches”concludes Vanessa Bedjaï-Haddad.