My youngest still gives me the death stare when anything green ends up on his plate. He is all about beige. My eldest on the other hand makes a long face with even a suggestion of protein. Some days I feel like I can’t win. So Healthy Eating Week has been the perfect cue for me to reboot how I think and maybe look at what I can do to change things around a bit. Let’s get ready to introduce some healthy snacks we all might like.

What is Healthy Eating Week?

Healthy Eating Week begins on the 13th of June and is hosted by The British Nutrition Foundation. The aim is to raise awareness about healthy eating across the UK. This year’s message is ‘eat well for you and the planet!’ Their tips include: vary your protein, drink lots of water, eat fiber and plenty of vegetables, and reduce food waste for the well-being of our planet. Good nutrition is one of the four pillars of a healthy child so it’s a great idea to take advantage of this important week by creating some nutrient-rich healthy snacks for all the family. Better still, we have come up with some ideas for you.

Healthy Snacks for the Family

Please do not make these recipes for children under the age of 5. Before you make these snacks, please follow the correct advice when it comes to potential choking hazards for children. All fruits and vegetables need to be cut up at the appropriate size.

Rainbow Fruit Kebab

This could be a lovely one for June when the month of Pride is upon us. The month celebrates LGBTQ+ communities around the world. The six colors of the rainbow represent positivity, peace, pride, and diversity on the Pride flag. So grab some wooden skewers and have some fun together.

Here are the suggested ingredients (cut up to the correct size) :

• Red: Strawberries (head of the rocket)
• Orange: Clementines
• Yellow: Pineapples
• Green: Green grapes
• Blue: Blueberries
• Purple: Red grapes

Before each activity, remember to wash the fruit and ask the children to wash their hands too. It’s important to be safe and hygienic when making food.

Happy Face Berry Pancakes

Eggs and milk make pancakes a lovely protein-rich snack. Parents will love them too. Younger children will enjoy making a happy face and older children can get involved with flipping the pancakes. This should make about six pancakes depending on how thick you like them. You can use self-raising flour for American pancakes and make them dairy-free by using oat milk.

• Sift 100 grams of plain flour into a mixing bowl
• Crack 2 organic or free-range eggs into a bowl
• Pour in 300 ml of whole organic milk
• Stir until smooth
• Put two spoonfuls of the mixture into a hot pan
• Turn the pancake and cook the other side when finished
• Serve with chopped berries in the shape of a happy face. Remember a lovely big smile!

Veggie Hedgehog

To make this really simple but super fun hedgehog you will need some toothpicks and the following fruits and vegetables:

• A large pear for the body- slice the bottom third off safely so it will lay flat
• Two chocolate chips for the eyes (for a little treat) – use half a toothpick
• A black olive for the nose- secure with a toothpick into the stem of the pear
• Chopped up peppers, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, and steamed broccoli florets for the spikes. Simply fill your toothpicks with your colorful vegetables and secure them safely into the pear body. Super easy!

Great for parties too. Click here if you want some more fun healthy snack ideas for celebrations.

Banana Muffins

This does have a little sugar but not too much. Your little ones will love spooning the mixture into the muffin cases. Don’t worry too much about the mess as it’s all part of the fun. This should make about 12 muffins depending on the size of the cases.

• Line your muffin tray with muffin cases
• Mash 4-5 ripe bananas into a mixing bowl
• Crack one egg into the mashed bananas and stir well
• Add 60 grams of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and stir
• Use another bowl to mix the dry ingredients:
  • 200 grams of plain flour
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • Pinch of salt

• Combine the wet and dry ingredients and mix well
• Add 2-3 tablespoons of melted butter
• Spoon the mixture into your muffin cases
• Bake for approximately 25 minutes at 180 C or until cooked
• Let them cool on a wire rack

All you can do is simply introduce your family to a selection of colorful, healthy, and nutritious snacks but whether they eat it or not is ultimately up to them. Having some fun can help kids feel more inclined to try those healthier foods. Good luck and happy snacking!

Samantha Redgrave-Hogg