Tips for healthy snacks that keep kids happy in between meals

A tray of vegetables and hummus

Tara Ross, Registered Dietitian with the HeartLife program at Prisma Health Upstate, is also a mom and an expert in the healthy snack department. Here are her tips for healthy snacks that keep kids happy in between meals. Make substitutions as needed for allergies and remember to avoid choking hazards for young children. And while homemade is great, Ross isn’t opposed to store-bought snacks to make life easier. See her list for some dietitian favorites that are ready to grab and go.

Remember to practice what’s called the division of responsibility to help minimize conflict. This simply means that your job as the parent is to decide what foods you’ll offer, when snack time will be, and where snacks should be eaten. Your child’s job is to decide if and how much they will eat. For older kids, it may be helpful to involve them in the planning process or offer a choice (would you prefer nuts or cheese with your apple slices?) but ultimately you still decide what is served.