Healthy Snacks for Kids

Use snacks as an opportunity to boost your child's daily intake of produce; he should be getting at least five servings a day. Snacks with fruit and veggies are tasty, colorful, and packed with lots of vitamins and antioxidants. Many also contain water to help your child stay hydrated. Pair fruit chunks or veggie strips with a protein snack or a dip made with low-fat yogurt, cream cheese, or nut butter to boost nutrition value and make snacks more filling.

Protein is important for kids' growth and it's also filling, so its calories are doing double-duty. One word of warning: Watch out for fat and salt content. Both are fine for most kids, in small amounts.

If you're ever scoured the contents of a vending machine trying to find a decent snack for your child, you need this list of snacks to go. Keep these portable, packable items handy at home, in the car, or in your bag for a healthier alternative to impulse buying. For more ideas, check the natural foods area at your grocery store, but be sure to read labels for hidden ingredients or surprising sugars and calories. The snacks on this list are generally good choices, depending on your child's age, energy level, and what he eats at mealtimes.

One way to keep kids from loading up on candy? Fill them with lots of healthy Halloween treats before they hit the streets to trick-or-treat. Try serving these snacks at your Halloween party. They're clever enough to tempt kids' palates, but low on sugar.