Written By: Dr. Dina Kulik, MD, FRCPC, PEM

Dina is a wife, mother of 4, and adrenaline junky. She loves to share children’s health information from her professional and personal experience. More About Dr Dina.

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Banana Sushi – a Healthy Snack Idea!

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Are you struggling with healthy snack ideas?

Banana Sushi

Kids’ tasty snack ideas can be challenging to think of! I have found that I run out of new ideas, and we get bored with the same old snacks. We often turn to snacks to keep us full and keep us from getting bored!

But, we don’t want this snacking to lead to unnecessary weight gain or to fill up our kids’ bellies with less than healthy options. We also know that kids can get bored of the same-old same-old, and we try to mix it up once in a while!

Banana Sushi is FUN!

Banana Sushi is a fun way to get kids involved in making their own healthy sweet and salty snacks!

Peel and cut bananas into bite-sized pieces, then add any favorite toppings like peanut butter or chocolate sauce.

This dish has the power of vitamins C & E and potassium that gives you energy for learning all day long – not bad considering one cup equals 60 calories!

The good news? The solution has been here all along: find their favorite foods in healthier versions of themselves- just remove the unhealthy ingredients like salt, added fat, and sugar, so you’re left with flavorful food options for your little one’s taste buds.

This recipe is so fun to make with your kids; rainy weekends are perfect for this activity.

It’s always nice to get your kids involved in something they’re interested in and can do independently!

The recipe is so simple. Just peel a banana and top with whatever you like.

You can use sprinkles, chia seeds, or shredded coconut, but there are endless possibilities to experiment with!

I recommend getting kids involved by giving them chopsticks so they can eat these tasty treats themselves and practice their fine motor skills.

What snacks are healthy for kids?

Ideally, you want a mix of protein, iron, healthy fats, and carbs for a filling snack. This will help them stay full and satisfied, with plenty of energy. In addition, a blend of vitamins and minerals can aid in maintaining they are active, growing, and changing bodies.

The afternoon snack should have good ingredients for you. Healthy recipes with little saturated fat are ideal, and cooking using olive oil or dairy-free alternatives helps lower the number of unhealthy fat. Banana sushi is a healthy snack idea for your little ones that should last up to a week.

Banana Sushi!!

Bananas contain fiber, potassium, and antioxidants. One banana has approximately 10% of your daily fiber requirements, and it can be helpful for digestive health as well.

The nut or seed butter provides a nice serving of fat, and the hemp hearts also offer healthy fats and protein. This is great as many kids find it challenging to get enough healthy fat and protein into their diets.

A lot of kids favor carbs and dairy, veering away from iron-containing foods. But iron and protein are crucial for brain growth and development, so finding ways to add to their diet is paramount.

Add them all together, and you have a well-balanced snack.

 

 

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

What are other healthy snacks?

Here are some great snack ideas:

  • Dark chocolate with no added sugar
  • Plain Greek Yogurt – an excellent protein-packed snack. Can mix with trail mix or fresh blueberries or whatever wholesome ingredients you crave.
  • Nuts and seeds such as sunflower seeds – eating nuts adds protein, fiber, and healthy fats to your diet.
  • Peanut butter. One of my kids’ favorite healthy snack recipes: add peanut butter or almond butter to celery. Add some raisins for ‘ants on a log.’ Nut butter, like almond butter, provides tons of healthy fats. It’s a sweet and salty snack.
  • Cheese – more healthy fat and several grams of protein per ounce.
  • Air-popped popcorn – a fiber-rich and salty snack
  • Chia pudding – a satisfying snack that is incredibly healthy
  • Apple slices or cucumber slices – naturally sweet and fiber rich snack
  • Tortilla chips and guacamole – this is a great snack combining crunchy and wholesome ingredients.
  • Homemade granola bars

What is a healthy, filling snack?

  • Protein powder, chia seeds, and nut butter smoothie
  • hard-boiled eggs with salt and pepper
  • Gluten-free Healthy banana muffins

Is peanut butter healthy?

Peanut butter, the king of all snacks. It’s not just an addiction; peanut butter can be part of a healthy diet! Peanut butter is one of my favorite healthy snacks.

This creamy spread is rich in protein and magnesium, which could help protect your heart and manage blood sugar levels or bodyweight for those who enjoy it.

What are some healthy snack recipes?

  • Fresh or frozen berries with cottage cheese
  • Greek yogurt with added good for you ingredients like chia seeds, maple syrup, and trail mix. Or chia pudding!
  • Banana slices topped with peanut butter, almond milk, and a sprinkle of cinnamon!
  • Banana bread made without added sugar
  • Air-popped popcorn with cocoa powder or kale chips baked with extra virgin olive oil.
  • Green smoothie
  • Crispy roasted chickpeas.

How many grams of protein is considered healthy?

The average person should consume 56 grams of protein per day, about one-third of their total caloric intake.

This will help maintain muscle mass and keep you feeling full longer so that it’s easier to avoid snacking throughout the rest of your day!

Is cream cheese healthy?

Cream cheese is a tasty and versatile dairy spread. It’s full of vitamins A, B12- even probiotics!

Cream Cheese doesn’t provide much protein, so use only in moderation. However, some excellent alternatives, like whipped cream cheeses, have less fat than traditional versions.

Is lemon juice healthy?

Fresh lemon juice is full of vitamin C, which can help prevent illness and viruses!

Vitamin C helps with bone formation and gum health, too. I love using fresh lemon juice on half an avocado and sprinkling with sea salt or salt and pepper. It’s a perfect healthy snack!

Enjoy! 

Dr Dina Kulik - Kids Health

Written By: Dr. Dina Kulik, MD, FRCPC, PEM

Dina is a wife, mother of 4, and adrenaline junky. She loves to share children’s health information from her professional and personal experience. More About Dr Dina.

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