If your child is starting pre-school, you must be on the hunt of easy-to-eat and healthy kid snacks to give them. Kids need snacks for energy between meals. Ideally, these should be satiating and calorie dense, and have lots of nutrients. Listed below are some healthy kids snacks you can try. They are delicious and packed with essential nutrients.

1. Fruits and vegetables
Bananas, clementine, berries, cherry tomatoes, slices of cucumber, and steamed carrots are all excellent snack options for kids. Try to pack at least one serving of your child’s favorite fruit and vegetable. Instead of fresh fruits, you can give them fruit leather, dried fruit, or applesauce. For a more satiating snack option, you can give them a cup of yogurt to go with the fruits or some hummus, which they can eat with the sliced veggies.

2. Whole grains
There are plenty of healthy kid snacks that you can make with whole grains. Applesauce or banana mini muffins make for delicious snack options and are filling. You can also pack a few Graham crackers paired with a cup hummus or tahini for some much needed boost of protein and healthy fats. Unsweetened peanut butter sandwiches are another good snack option. They are rich in slow-digesting carbs, protein, and healthy fats. If your kid likes to snack on something sweet, you can give them some oatmeal soaked in any milk of their choice and top it with some dried fruits, nuts, honey, and chocolate chips.

3. Cheese and yogurt
Protein is essential for growth and keeping children energetic throughout the day. You can ensure that your kids get sufficient protein in their meals by adding chicken, cottage cheese, and hummus to their snacks. Sandwiches with Greek yogurt and veggies also make for an excellent and delicious snack. You can also give them flavored milk or drinkable yogurt with chopped nuts and dried fruits. Pretzels with cheese or a mini bagel with cream cheese are other good snack options. If your child is fond of nuts, you can give them sliced apples paired with any nut butter of their choice.

4. Fruit juice and other beverages
Don’t forget to give water, milk, and juice to your kid. Staying adequately hydrated is not only important for adults but for kids as well. However, encourage your child to eat fruit rather than drinking fruit juice, as fruits are rich in fiber. A great way to make your kids eat enough fruits and veggies is to whip up a smoothie made from yogurt, nut butters, and your kid’s favorite fruits.