Healthy Back to School Snacks that the whole family will love!

Healthy Ideas to Start The Day

We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and that is why no one in your family should ever skip breakfast. After all, we want them to be paying attention in class, not counting down the minutes until lunchtime. So let’s start by making sure your child is starting their day off with a well-balanced breakfast. And listen Mom’s, I get it; I am not suggesting that you wake up every morning to prepare an exceptionally healthy meal with fresh-squeezed orange juice- even if that’s what every working mom does in the movies. I understand that is not always realistic so here are some alternative breakfast options or snacks for the little ones when you’re on the go: 

• Whole-grain toast, bagel, or English muffin 
• Try adding cream cheese or peanut butter.
• Yogurt with fruit or nuts
• Whole-grain cereal and milk
• Fresh fruits with additional protein (hard-boiled egg, yogurt, etc.)
• Wheat Waffles
• Hard-Boiled Egg 
• Unsweetened oatmeal with fruit and drizzled honey

If you have some extra preparation time over the weekend, try making bigger batches that can be used throughout the week. How about some Mixed Berry Collagen Pop-Tarts? Trust me, your entire family will love this recipe.

Healthy Snack Options Between Meals

Okay, so what about food in between meals? Or after-school snacks? Don’t worry because we have a pretty awesome list of additional snacks and recipes for those times too!  These in-between bites and healthy treats will not only help your child meet their nutritional needs but will keep them satisfied until their next meal. 

Something to keep in mind when considering healthier alternatives is to offer options from all food groups to provide lasting energy between meals - this goes for you too!

• Healthy Collagen Banana Bread
• Try this delicious recipe that uses our Collagen Hydrolysate for added benefits. 
• Home-made trail mix! 
• Combine mixtures of unsalted nuts and dried fruits (with no sugar added).  Think walnuts, almonds, pistachios, raisins, dried cranberries.
• Carrots and ranch dressing
• Kids seem to like the baby carrots, so throwing a portion of these in backpacks or in the fridge for after school is a great idea!
• Celery sticks with nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew, sunflower) or low-fat cream cheese. 
• You can add raisins to the celery sticks as well and enjoy “ants on a log”
• Apple slices with any type of nut butter
• Fruit Smoothie Bowl 
• Made with our Apple + Cucumber Collagen Hydrolysate.
• Homemade dried fruit with no added sugar (apple, banana, pineapple, kiwi, strawberry, blueberry)
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Veggies and hummus
• Celery, Cucumber slices, carrots
• Unsweetened applesauce
• If you want additional health benefits, try mixing in a serving of Apple Cucumber Collagen Hydrolysate! 
• Popcorn
• String cheese
• Rice cakes with spreadable cheese (like Laughing Cow) or nut butter
• Fresh fruits and/or vegetables

Another delicious snack that feels like a dessert is a collagen fruit smoothie! You can get creative with what fruits and vegetables you blend in but if you need a recipe to grab inspo from, check out this delicious Collagen Protein Berry Green Smoothie recipe.

The great thing about these snacks is that they are all so delicious that your child won’t even notice that they are healthy for them! Now we just have to figure out a way to trick them into eating broccoli LOL. All jokes aside, it’s important to monitor your child’s diet so they are consuming everything they need for strong bones and a sharp mind...nutrition makes a huge difference! 

Disclaimer: The information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical conditions. Nor is it intended to replace the advice or diagnosis of a medical professional. Individual results may vary.