If you are a mom at home on a diet, you will probably related to a frequent situation I encounter as a weight loss consultant. Many of my clients with children are able to keep to a healthy eating plan through most circumstances except two. It all starts to go astray when the kids come home from school, or when they are preparing school lunches.
It's no surprise really. Kids love snacks we buy from the supermarket, and parents love them because they are quick and easy to throw into the lunchbox or for kids to grab from the shelves in the pantry. Small bags of chips, tasty bite size crackers, sodas and the like. No problem. Except when it comes to mom's weight loss program. Mom loves them too!
These products are high in fat, high in energy and high in refined sugars. And after one, two or three nibbles it is possible to wrack up an unwanted 500 calories. This single act will probably stall your weight loss or even worse!
To stop your kids from sabotaging your weight loss efforts, here are 20 snack ideas for kids that will do far less damage to your weight loss program if mom nibbles (just a little).
1. Chop up ? tinned pear or other fruit in natural juice and set in 200mls of low calorie jelly. Make up into individual disposable plastic containers with lids.
2. Cut up crisp vegetable sticks with dipping sauce - ranch, peanut (satay), sweet chili or tomato.
3. Cut celery sticks 6-8 cm, fill with cottage cheese and top with sultanas or chopped nuts.
4. Combine a mixture of low fat hard cheese cubes, nuts and dried fruits in plastic wrap or a lunch bag.
5. Roll up thin slices of carrot and celery with grated cheese in a slice of cold meat. Secure with toothpick. Slice the carrot and celery with a vegetable peeler for really thin slices.
6. Cut oranges into quarters and freeze on trays. Put into plastic bags for a fruity ice block.
7. Meatball surprise. Next time you are making meatloaf, double the quantity and make a batch of meatballs. These are great in lunchboxes cold. Add a slice of pineapple with a toothpick to each meatball. Add dipping tomato sauce if required.
8. Mini quiches?.make a batch of crust-less quiche and cook in muffin tray. Each 'muffin' will be a wonderful healthy snack for kids.
9. Chilled fruit surprise - slice a combination of strawberries, bananas, kiwi fruit, watermelon, grapes or in season fruit. Place in small resealable plastic container. Top with apple juice; do not overfill. Seal, freeze. When packed in lunchbox, will keep sandwiches cool and prove a refreshing treat on a hot day.
10. Rice cakes spread with mashed avocado, mashed banana and cinnamon, or try mashed avocado, sliced tomato and sprouts.
11. Chopped hard-boiled egg served with low fat mayo, salt, pepper on a crisp bread.
12. Leaf wrappers: wrap a cheese finger, celery stick and carrot stick in a lettuce leaf. Wrap in foil and place in lunchbox. Contents will be kept moist.
13. Yoghurt tub.
14. Baby Bell Cheese and low fat cracker.
15. Creamy dates: slice dates lengthways, remove stone. Fill with Philadelphia cream cheese (low fat).
16. Quick sausage rolls: wrap a skinned (good quality) sausage in several sheets of filo pastry. Brush pastry with beat egg to glaze. Cut into desired lengths. Bake in moderately hot oven for 15-20 minutes. Rolls can be frozen.
17. Same as above but use fresh chicken breast strips and cut to 2" - use tomato or favorite dipping sauce
18. After school hot snack attack: Spread a round of pita bread with tomato paste and herbs. Top with tomato, ham, mortadella, add onion, sliced mushrooms or pineapple. Sprinkle grated low fat hard cheese over pita bread. Grill to make a tasty pizza. If no pita bread is available, substitute a crisp bread.
19. Fruity kebabs: place bite size pieces of fruit in season on kebab skewers.
20. Pop top sandwich tuna tin, crisp bread, sachet of mayonnaise. Kids can put their snack together at school so that it doesn't go soggy.
Remember fresh is best both for yourself and your children. By substituting these ideas for some of the prepackaged snack food and cookies your kids eat you will be doing both them and yourself a favor.
(c) Copyright Kim Beardsmore
You are free to publish this article in its entirety, without changes as long as the Copyright and Author's Bio, remain in place and the URLs and links remain intact and working.
About The Author
Kim is a successful weight loss coach who will cut through the diet-hype and help you reach your goal weight. No public 'weigh-ins', meetings that cost you money or fads...simply results you will love! You can receive a free consultation. Visit today: http://tinyurl.com/6l2cd. Are you interested in earning money from home? We can help you grow a profitable home business: http://tinyurl.com/6l2cd.
bathroom cleaning service Northbrook ..Yes, you must be aware of the following 7 points... Read More
At around ?350 pounds a treatment, Lipo-Dissolve the so called... Read More
Recently, I won a family cruise on the Regis and... Read More
More and more people are starting to recognize that they... Read More
Ephedra and Ephedrine consumers are still under the assumption that... Read More
We have all set them, and we will revisit them... Read More
Have I become invisible or are people just aiming right... Read More
Most men and women that I have trained over the... Read More
It's agreed that if you raise the amount of calories... Read More
Dieting doesn't have to be a chore. Actually, you can... Read More
It's been called the world's oldest medicine, the miracle fat... Read More
Finally - you are alone. No one else is around.... Read More
A state of emergency has been recently put on European... Read More
There are many factors that cause us to increase body... Read More
"Hey, you have reduced now, compared to the last time... Read More
For the past 20 years, the American public has been... Read More
We think we know everything there is to know about... Read More
When we discover that we are heavier than we want... Read More
We have missed the boat and your boat is sinking... Read More
Getting enough of the good fats will help you lose... Read More
The 8-Week Campaign to Survive the HolidaysEating preparations in the... Read More
When you talk about losing weight you're really talking about... Read More
What is the best form of physical activity?The best form... Read More
I'm sure you have heard it before, but one of... Read More
Staying Toned After Weight Loss ---------------------------------------- Following significant weight loss,... Read More
insured cleaning company Wilmette ..It seems like everywhere you turn, there is someone trying... Read More
If all we have to do is exercise to live... Read More
It all begins with water .... Water makes up 75%... Read More
Did you say there's a way I can eat what... Read More
Watching television exercises our eyes but nothing else. Unfortunately, it... Read More
It is well known that about two-thirds of the U.S.... Read More
Diet is one of the most controversial subjects around. Bring... Read More
REDUCE YOUR WEIGHTNow you are not very far from losing... Read More
1. Become aware of what you are eating.Before I started... Read More
With the number of people suffering from obesity rising so... Read More
Here come the candy canes. In our house, Santa always... Read More
1. Carrying around excess body fat will decrease your energy... Read More
I have tried many "diets" here in the USA and... Read More
Weight loss plans come in all shapes and sizes. Some... Read More
America is a nation of self-disclosers, amiably acceptant of our... Read More
We hear it all the time?lose weight for your health.... Read More
New Medical Research shows high-intensity exercise can increase the body's... Read More
Lose a pound of fat? what does it take? Not... Read More
The holidays are definitely a special time of year. These... Read More
Fat burners have become very popular in today's society, especially... Read More
Have you ever stepped on the scale after a week... Read More
With so many diets and fads being offered on the... Read More
The government, nutritionists, doctors, and dietitians implore us to eat... Read More
We all eat. But how mindful are we of every... Read More
Whew! So how did you do on that last lesson?... Read More
Weight Loss |