With students around the Philadelphia region preparing to head back to the classroom in the next few weeks, after-school snacks will soon be in high demand. Cookies or chips may seem like a fun option in the moment, but are not the healthiest choice a young student journalist can make.Â
Healthy Snacks and Quick Bites: A Recipe Book for Kids to the rescue! Created in 2019 by Healthy NewsWorks and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), the digital cookbook has more than a dozen kid-tested and kid-approved healthy snack recipes.
Check out three favorites:
SALSA-MOLÉ OLÉ!
What You’ll Need
- 2½ cups chopped tomato
- ½ cup red onions, chopped
- ½ avocado, diced
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons jalapeño pepper, seeds removed and chopped; be careful! These peppers are spicy hot. The seeds hold most of the heat, so cut the pepper lengthwise and scoop out the core and seeds with a spoon. Try not to touch your face. Wear gloves or wash your hands after you chop.
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
- salt and pepper to taste
- baked tortilla chips or baguette, toasted
Let’s Cook!
1. Combine ingredients in a medium bowl.
2. Refrigerate until ready.
3. Serve with baked tortilla chips or toasted baguette.
Serves 4
MIX-AND-MATCH SNACK ATTACK
What You’ll Need
Make your own snack by mixing together five ingredients from the list below. For the best-tasting snack, pick ingredients from all three groups.
Fruits
- ½ cup raisins
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup dried apricots
Grains
- 1 cup mini pretzel sticks or squares
- 1 cup low-fat popcorn
- 1 cup kettle popcorn
- ½ cup toasted O’s cereal (like Cheerios®)
- ½ cup wheat, corn or rice cereal (like Chex®)
Protein
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
- ¼ cup peanuts or soy nuts
SAMPLE SNACK ATTACK
What You’ll Need
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup toasted O’s cereal (like Cheerios®)
- 1 cup low-fat popcorn
- 1 cup mini pretzel sticks or squares
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
Let’s Cook!
Mix five ingredients together in a resealable bag or a container.
Serves 4
CREAMY FRUITY SMOOTHIE
What You’ll Need
- ½ cup diced fruit (strawberries, peaches, bananas, pineapples or mangos)
- ½ cup low-fat yogurt
- ½ cup low-fat milk
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 4 ice cubes
Let’s Cook!
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Serves 1
The book stemmed from a community grant Healthy NewsWorks received from CHOP. Read the full recipe book here.