If there is one thing I learned during all those darn lockdowns - it is that kids appetites and their demand for snacks increases x1000 when they are home. Did you notice this too, because I just about lost the plot! Tell me I am not alone.
Luckily I might just have the answer...
To combat the incessant requests for food and save your sanity these school holidays, I highly recommend building a snack station - a place for pre-prepared snacks your kiddies can independently eat throughout the day. The catch is, once the snacks are gone they are gone and will have to wait until tomorrow + they will quickly learn that if they eat all the chocolate biscuits on the first day they will be left with carrot sticks and mandarins for the rest of the week. A great teaching opportunity.
You can make the station as simple or elaborate as you like and include any foods your child will eat. There are no rules! However the Personal Trainer in me would suggest you have at least a few high protein options for lasting satiety. Unfortunately a basket with an unlimited supply of chip packets will not keep little tummies feeling full for long, so do the best you can to incorporate a few whole food items too.
Here is how I do it...
HOW TO:
- Two basket method
Baskets, old plastic Tupperware, empty ice cream containers, matchy-matchy organisers - anything will do! Just get two of them, one for the fridge and one for the dining table. Label each basket with the number of items they are allowed to have from that basket each day. Explain they are free to choose whatever they like, but it can only be the number of items you have decided. - Lunchbox
If your child is young or you are not quite sure they will stick to the limit, you can pack portioned snacks in a lunchbox and leave it in the fridge or on the dining table (if the lunchbox has an icepack).
SNACK IDEAS:
- Whole or portioned fruits and vegetables
- Dips, hummus or cream cheese
- Deli meats
- Cheese sticks or wedges
- Yogurt pouches
- Boiled eggs
- Muffins or baking
- Crackers
- Popcorn
- Pretzels
- Trail mix
- Fruit juice or flavoured milk boxes
- Jelly tubs
- Nut butters
- Pizza bread
- Chickpeas
- Seaweed
- Jerky
- Muesli bars
- Creamy rice
- Fruit puree
Don't feel like you have to have lots of options, just pick a few foods for the week and buy in bulk. I hope this helps!
Tania of LMB
*the image used in the cover of this post is by Simplify My Home, you can follow them HERE