Your little one is hungry, and what are they asking for?

Before you answer, I think I can guess…

• Chocolate?
• Crisps?
• Sweets?

We can’t blame them, can we? Sweet and salty foods can become addictive.

Angelina Schiano, a graduate research assistant at North Carolina State University’s Sensory Service Centre says “We do have an innate preference for sweet and salty foods. From day one, babies love sweet foods, which makes sense because mother’s milk is essentially sweet.”

She says our love of salt develops next, once we’re around four months old. That’s likely connected to development; scientists believe that we’re drawn to salty things because they’re found in essential minerals that we need for growth.

So, what options do parents have?

Well to start with, finding healthier options that can address those sweet and salty cravings is a great step in the right direction.

Helping your little one’s to realise snacking is something they can do in a healthy way will promote more positive eating habits in the future.

Having a Dairy Milk bar every so often should not be frowned upon but, encouraging your children to incorporate fruit and veg into their daily lives is very important.

If you don’t have time to bake and create a healthy snack, or your child just needs a snack “NOW” our pre-packed snacks are a great healthier treat for your little ones.

However, we’ve also come up with some super fun creations which will help your children love healthy snacking.

Enjoy…

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1. Frozen yoghurt pops!

Yoghurt is an excellent source of protein and calcium for your little ones. However, a lot of yoghurts intended for children are high in refined sugar. A better option could be to purchase plain yoghurt and make the below yoghurt pops to make it fun and delicious.

Method:

You’ll first need an ice lolly maker, like this one:

Slice your preferred fruit and mix gently with the yoghurt to combine. Pour this mix into the moulds.

Put the pops in the freezer overnight and once snack time arrives the next day your kids will have a refreshing and healthy treat to enjoy!

Some of our favourite fruit combinations are:

• Strawberries & Blueberries
• Kiwi & Banana
• Watermelon
• Raspberries
• Grape & Melon

The list is endless, so get creative and see what yummy yoghurt pops you can make!

2. Pitta Bread Pizzas:

Kids love pizza, so what if you made it healthy and super delicious…? I present to you, Pitta Bread Pizzas.

Method:

Cut up pitta bread about 3cm width x 6cm length.

Spread hummus on the pittas (this acts as a base layer).

Placed sliced tomato disks on top.

Then take some ChewyMoon Cheddar Cheese Bites, crush a couple of them up and sprinkle them on top. Voila, pitta bread pizza!

Overall, the snack is a source of antioxidants, vitamin C, calcium and protein! A fun and yummy snack and you can get creative with the toppings.

You can purchase them here.

3. Banana, Oat & Strawberry cookies:

Cookies can be healthy and, most importantly, very easy to make.

Here’s how you can make some delicious ChewyMoon cookies. We recommend using our Strawberry Hearts for the very best flavour results, but experiment with our fruit snacks and see what yummy cookies you can make for your little ones!

You can purchase our Strawberry Hearts here.

Method:

Preheat oven to Fan/175˚C/Gas Mark 4 and line a baking tray with baking paper.

Mash 3 bananas in a bowl.

Add 80ml of coconut oil, 160g oats, 3 packs of Chewymoon strawberry hearts (60g) and 1 tsp of vanilla to the mixture. Mix until ingredients are fully incorporated.

Place teaspoons of mixture onto the baking tray and ensure you leave gaps, so they don’t form 1 giant cookie.

Bake for 15-20 mins until golden brown.

Top tip – if you’re struggling with moving the mix to the baking tray use 2 teaspoons, 1 to scoop the mixture and the back of the other spoon to scrape the mix off.

This snack contains no refined sugar, which means that your little ones are fulfilling their sugar craving but from all-natural sugars.
Oats are also a great source of fibre, so it’s beneficial for the digestive system.

 

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I hope these snacks are going to help make healthy snacking fun for both you and your little ones with these very simple recipes.

They are delicious, nutritious and help to keep things exciting. Soon your little ones will be requesting these healthier options instead 😊

If you try any of these ideas, please take some pictures and tag us @chewymoonbox. Let’s get healthy snacking together!