3 Healthy Back-to-School Snacks For Kids

It’s time to send the kids to school again, which means you may be in need of some healthy snack ideas. Here are three snack recipes that are fun for kids to eat and nutritious for their growing bodies. But who knows, you might find yourself eating these snacks more than they do!

Baked Apple Chips

Are you tired of giving your kids greasy, salty, store-bought potato chips? Try a different chip instead! Homemade baked apple chips are healthy and fun to make. Sprinkling a small amount of cinnamon or other flavoring is optional, or just eat these delicious apple chips all on their own. 

Ingredients:

• Apples

• Cinnamon (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees and line a baking sheet with either parchment paper or a Silpat mat. 

2. Use a mandoline slicer to cut apples into ⅛-inch thick slices and place them in a single layer onto the baking sheet. 

3. Bake for 1 hour, then flip the apple slices over.

4. Bake for 1 ½ more hours.

5. Check the crispiness of the apple slices, and if necessary, bake for additional time, checking on the slices every few minutes until they have the desired texture.

6. Take out of the oven, let cool, and enjoy! You can store them for up to one week in an airtight container (room temperature).

Kale Chips

It’s so hard to get kids to eat vegetables sometimes. But kids will want to get their hands on these kale chips! Kale chips are a perfect back-to-school snack if you’re looking for something healthy and nutritious.

Ingredients:

• 1 bundle of curly purple kale or green kale

• 1-2 tablespoons melted coconut oil

• Seasonings such as sea salt or chili powder (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 225 degrees.

2. Rinse and dry kale.

3. Tear kale into small pieces, removing large stems.

4. Put kale pieces into a large bowl and add any seasonings you want, mixing them all together. 

5. Spread kale pieces across a baking sheet, making sure that the pieces are not touching each other.

6. Bake for 15 minutes, then stir.

7. Bake for 5-10 more minutes, checking carefully that the kale is not burnt.

8. Once kale is a crispy golden brown, take it out of the oven and wait for it to cool before eating.

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

This chocolate treat is surprisingly healthy! It contains proteins and healthy fats without much sugar. You can add chocolate chips or sweetener if you prefer. These zucchini muffins are a must-try for kids, and it might just become their new favorite snack.

Ingredients:

• 1 large zucchini

• 2 eggs

• ¼ cup milk (unsweetened almond milk recommended)

• A pinch of sea salt

• ¼ cup chocolate chips (optional)

• ¼ cup (or more ) coconut sugar, maple syrup, or honey

• ¼ cup unsweetened cacao powder

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2 tablespoons coconut flour

• ½ teaspoon baking soda

• 1 cup almond butter or Sunbutter

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Grease a muffin pan with either cooking spray or coconut oil.

3. Shred zucchini using a box grater.

4. Put shredded zucchini onto a clean dish towel and squeeze the towel around it to drain the liquid out. Then measure out 1 cup of the shredded zucchini.

5. Mix eggs, milk, butter, and vanilla extract in a bowl, then add the shredded zucchini. Stir thoroughly to create batter.

6. Pour batter into muffin cups, filling each cup half full. Add chocolate chips.

7. Bake for about 20 minutes or until fully cooked, then remove and let cool.

8. Store muffins in refrigerator.