What are quick, healthy, grab & go type snacks that are pre-teen friendly?!
What are quick, healthy, grab & go type snacks that are pre-teen friendly?
This is the first summer that my pre-teen is old enough to and will spend the days at home during the week. What are some healthy, not too quickly perishable snack type items I can stock up on that my kid will like and can handle preparing (using a can opener, the microwave, toaster) ?
On my stock up list, I've already got: Trail Mix, Granola Bars, Cereal Bars, Canned Mixed Nuts, Fruit Cups, Jello Cups, Sandwich Items, Microwave Popcorn.
Please give me other good ideas for easy but healthy food snacks. I will make sure to have some fun foods - chips, cookies, etc. But want the bulk of it to be nutritious. Also, I will provide fresh fruit and veggies w/dip - but that I can't stock up on, but will purchase weekly.
Answers:
Canned soup is great
Ramen (add in veggies and leftover meat for variety)
Rinsed and prepared veggies to dip in Ranch (carrots, colorful sweet peppers, celery, etc. Trust me, most kids do like veggies, but prep work really cuts down on how often they make it for themselves.)
Tuna Melts in a toaster oven
Those Lipton or Knorr packets of pasta or rice with sauce
Mac & Cheese
Cheese burritos (tortilla, shredded cheese, taco sauce microwaved)
Bagel Bites or frozen pizzas
The best thing to have on hand is a sandwich maker. The kid can make grilled cheese and other hot sandwiches without using the stove or getting a pan dirty, and it's also great for quesodillas, which are made better if you have some veggies and leftover chicken or steak in the fridge.
If you have time in the mornings, try making breakfast, and wake the kid up for it (if you don't leave at 6 o'clock in the morning or anything). It will make them less likely to snack throughout the day, and it's always nice to have a face to face convo with someone if you are spending most of the day alone. Plus, it will give you a nice breakfast. (And my mom usually used the time to give me a small list of chores for the day, like watering her plants. >.<)
Make sure your kid knows their way around the kitchen also. Knife safety is a huge one, even if they aren't likely to use them. Also make sure they know that if they are frying anything, like a quesodilla, water won't put out a fire. Get a small fire extinguisher if you don't have one, and go over how to use it.
Source(s):
I was always an only child latch key kid, and made a lot of after-school snacks for myself. Later I baby-sat my younger cousins during the summer.
Granola bars, they can't be beat.
CHEF BOYARDEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i practically grew up on this stuff its awesome
The best snacks are fruits. Cherries, apples, bananas, oranges, pears, etc. You get alot of the nutrients and daily minerals your body needs. And they are refreshing and delicious!
Cereals also make a good snack, although the healthier ones may not go well with the child's taste bud. A bowl of fiber one cereal along with low fat milk will provide all the fiber and calcium for the growing youngster.
Raisins are always a good snack and very healthy to boot.
Remember, its wise to get your child used to these kind of foods so that they can grow up with a healthy lifestyle and not worry about complications that plague so many older americans.
How about leaving some sliced meat loaf to heat up in the microwave?
and some potato salad
and some dried fruits from the health food store
a rice dish to re-heat in the microwave ...
some raisin-pumpernickel bread and cream cheese ...
some little meat tarts .... make a pastry and stuff it, shape like an apple turnover,,, bake...
can reheat in the microwave
tunafish salad, a country white bread, put into a zip-lock bag some lettuce and tomato ...
can be put together in a jiff and will not get soggy ... leave some ridgies or sour cream and onion chips .... and something good to drink ..
I have four children and one of which is also this year old enough to stay home and some of the snacks that I purchased were, Chef boyardee, Soups, Frozen lean cuisines, and I also bought some of those plastic serving trays with lids that are microwavable and when we had left overs from dinner, I put it in those and froze them. These are all quick and simple and healthy.
Teach him how to make some good items in the microwave and toaster oven.
I used to make quesadillas all the time (can be done in both microwave and toaster oven)
Also, pita pocket fillings are usually good and he can get creative filling them.
He'll need things to fill him up, so make sure you have sandwich fillings, lots of fruit, pasta salads, etc. in the fridge so he can whip something substantial up for lunch. He might learn how to creatively cook if you're lucky. Maybe you'll even come home to dinner some night.
Or maybe not, he is a pre-teen after all.