Father and Sons

I knew right after I started this blog that my babies, my two boys will not be forever babies (although the main purpose of this blog was to document the things that happens to me as a father and to them as my sons).

I knew they’ll grow up and become a unique individual themselves, that’s inevitable. Last couple of days, I was thinking of things to post here about babies, and I stop and said.. ‘wait a minute’, my matthew’s not a baby anymore.. although he’s turning 3 (still a baby) but the things he’s doing and how active he is now, is like a 5, 10 year old kid.

I was going to blog about baby foods, but since my first born is now a boy, i decided to post about healthy snacks for kids… better. , and not some kind of appetite suppressant

I’m not an authority here, I’m no nutritionist. Heck, I don’t even have a healthy diet myself. So, what I did is referenced the internet for useful information about healthy snacks.

Top 10 Healthy Snacks

• Almonds and apricots
  Almonds are high in protein and fibre, as well as being low-GI, a good source of magnesium, and rich in vitamin E (an antioxidant). Dried apricots, on the other hand, are rich in carotenes and provide you with potassium, iron, calcium, silicon, phosphorus, and vitamin C
• Yoghurt and honey
  Yoghurt is low in fat, high in calcium and good for your gut. A recent study also found that people who got their calcium from yoghurt rather than other dairy sources lost more weight around the tummy area.
• Apples and pears
  Apples are high in pectin, a soluble fibre; contain quercetin – an antioxidant that can reduce damage caused by cholesterol; and have a high water content, which will help to keep your thirst satiated. Apples are also a good source of vitamin C. Pears are high in potassium and are also a good source of fibre and vitamin C.
• A homemade smoothie or similar (i.e. no added sugar, sweetener or additives)
  While a fruit juice counts towards your all-important fruit and veg target, it doesn’t offer any fibre at all. A smoothie, on the other hand, contains the pulp of the fruit and not just the juice, and provides you with fibre plus a whole array of vitamins and minerals. It also boosts hydration.
• Dark chocolate
  Not all chocolates are bad. Chocolate has an unnecessarily bad press in health terms. Dark chocolate containing at least 70% cocoa solids is a good source of antioxidants – particularly flavonoids, which are the type that are found in green tea and red wine. And while chocolate is high in fat, it consists of saturated types – including stearic and palmitic acid – and oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat that is also found in olive oil.
• Peanut butter on crispbreads
  This is the perfect combination of protein, fat, carbohydrate, and lots of fibre. While peanut butter is high in fat, it’s the unsaturated (or ‘good’) kind – and peanuts are a great source of the antioxidant vitamin E. Peanut butter is also rich in protein – so is an especially good option for vegetarians – and a good source of magnesium.
• Hummus and crudités
  Hummus is best when you make it yourself using chickpeas – but if you don’t have time to do this, opt for the reduced fat variety, which will supply you with vitamin E, manganese, and disease-fighting garlic. Use raw veg – such as beta-carotene-rich carrot sticks and potassium-rich celery – to dip into the hummus, in order to boost your fibre intake.
• Seeds and raisins mix
  While seeds are high in fat, it is mostly unsaturated ‘healthy’ fat – and since they weigh so little, they are easy to eat on the move. Seeds are also high in protein and a good source of phytosterols – plant compounds which are believed to reduce cholesterol and enhance immune function. Research also suggests pumpkin seeds might have anti-inflammatory properties that are useful in curbing the symptoms of arthritis. Add a handful of raisins to this mix and you’ll be upping your iron intake and potassium intake.
• Grapes and cheese
  If you’re a cheese lover, you are probably only too aware of its high saturated fat content – which is particularly the case for the harder varieties. But it’s not all bad: hard cheese such as cheddar is a great source of calcium and phosphorus, and is one of the few good sources of vitamins B2 and B12 for non-meat eaters. Plus, if you buy stronger-tasting cheeses, you will only want to eat a little at a time. Eat with red grapes to up your fibre and fruit intake. Grapes contain polyphenols – antioxidants which are helpful to the heart – and ellagic acid, which is a cancer-fighting phytochemical.
• Avocado on toast
  Avocado is something of a ‘superfood’, as it’s rich in vitamin E, high in monounsaturated fats and a good source of potassium – as well as vitamin B6, which aids the process of serotonin synethesis (a process that promotes good mood). Spread half a ‘medium ripe’ avocado on a slice of wholemeal toast to get a tasty, wholesome, low-GI snack containing a healthy dose of fibre.

There you go! A long list of healthy snack for both you and your kids to enjoy.

Reference: Top 10 Healthy Snacks here.