So dull but healthy teen snacks

[lugeforlife]

I know. But dd13 is forever moaning there is nothing to eat. For school lunch, after school etc.

They eat a bit too much processed stuff as it is so I'm looking for stuff which is a bit healthy. They have access to toast, fruit etc of course. I try to get them to go for plain yoghurt and add bits but that's a non starter.

I don't have heaps of time but can do a bit of batch cooking if a Sunday and they can reheat in the air fryer - they are pros....

teen here - same issues!

mine makes smoothies ( keep frozen fruit in freezer for this)
I keep noodles which she will cook up with a few bits in the fridge
Seaweed (those packets)
sometimes when on special I buy those graze boxes
but mostly I try have bits to put on a bagel /toast
I encourage things like apple and dipped in peanut butter

Smoothies
Hummus and crackers/pittas/veg

Bit random and I'm not sure how healthy but I buy tins and tins of rice pudding.

Fruit in jelly pots.

Then it's cereal or toast.

Eggs - scrambled, boiled, poached, omelette, eggy bread at 13 they can make themselves in 15 mins. Ds favourite is a cheese and ham omelette.

Currently he is enjoying ready made potato skins with cheese and Bacon (£1.65) in microwave with a bit of mayo on side

Protien yoghuts / smoothies (with veg) - again make themselves

I try to have roasted children in the fridge (left overs, or cooked extra at a previous meal) ready to eat that he puts in a sandwich or wrap with bbq or chilli sauce

Banana in a sandwich

Tins of soup or fresh soup in fridge

Baked cinnamon apple -
Slice and core an apple, rub in cinnamon, bake 5-10min at 180°C. By 10mins it's very soft so they might prefer it done closer to 5min.

I have a LOT whole meal seedy bread and a lot of things to put on / with it - peanut butter, humous, cheese,

Porridge and shredded wheat

Frozen fruit for smoothies (bought packets of berries and going off bananas sliced up)

Nuts, apples, bananas, apples, popcorn

Eggs and cheese/ham for omelettes

You could half bake potatoes to be finished off (or just get them the frozen ones)

Filled fresh pasta in fridge

If you can afford it get some microwaveable Cook meals for the freezer

chicken - there are no roasted children in my fridge!

Bowl of Cornflakes.

Sushi
soup
popcorn - even the plain stuff can be made in the microwave
pasta salad
nuts

Cheese - chunks off a big block or if finances permit individual portions/slices.

Cereal

noodles

milk or milk shake or hot chocolate made with milk.

milk based pudding - dd likes making angel delight. Usually have open tub of custard in fridge or small pots depending on finances.

nut/cereal bars but ‘good’ ones full of nuts when on offer.

Mr Kipling type cakes - yes I know they are not healthy but better imo than a big bag of sweets or an energy drink and got to be realistic!

could they/you bake and fill a tin with something like rock cakes or flapjack?

I make a big batch of roast veg pasta most weeks (or use sauce previously batch cooked) 0.5kg bag of wholemeal pasta does a meal for 5 plus enough for a portion for leftovers or lunch. Ditto a big pack of chicken wings/drumsticks with some sort of spices or sauces for flavour - good for lunch boxes, post school snacks or dinner with some fried rice.

Otherwise bread products or cereal.

Ah yes and noodles - not my favourite but they always ask for instant type noodles or those pot ones so I'll get them if they're on offer.

Microwave rice, chicken and frozen peas
hummus and veg
cereal

Bowl of not too sugary cereal and milk

Breadsticks and hummus/peanut butter.

veg sticks and hummus/fruit and peanut butter

cheese and crackers

my teens couldn’t be bothered even doing most of the above and just grabbed another bit of fruit or a bagel while morning about ‘boring stuff’. This generally meant they wanted endless pizzas and junk rather than anything to actually fill them up. Their loss. Food is available if they can be bothered to make the effort!

Popcorn
Nuts
Rasins
Seeds
Carrot sticks
Fruit
Rice cakes

Some of the healthier things my teens like are roasted, seasoned chickpeas, cooked tofu strips/falafel with home made dips, Sweet potato crisps (air fryer), apple/banana/celery with peanut butter, pasta salad, homemade soup, plain jackets potatoes, nuts and seeds, porridge and fruit.

Frozen frubes yogurts
Home madd granola with yog
Frozen fruit

Toasties

Thanks for all of these. I think toast and cereal are where it's at. She's asked for houmous/Philly on the shopping list.

I think the doing it themselves thing is key. If I make her a lovely plate with a sliced up apple fanned around peanut butter she's scoffs it. If I suggest she does it herself suddenly not so peckish.....

Im in despair with my youngest two. Dd15 and 12.

they hate everything. They’ve gone of toast, toastiest, hate eggs, hate bagels, fussy with crisps, peanut butter, crackers, noodles, they hate cereal even the sugary ones

one will eat jacket potatoes and beans and cheese, the 12 year old will leave her lovely home cooked dinner and eat a pot noodle instead.

they hate pasta unless it’s macaroni cheese.

omg I’m in despair. But they will eat fruit if I cut it all up for them.

and of course they love chocolate. They were great as kids.

Make a big fritata that can be chopped into cubes and kept the fridge for snacks.
Hard boiled eggs.
Make a Tub of tuna mayo with sweetcorn, peppers and red pepper or egg mayo that can be spread on crackers, rice cakes or in a pita.
Toasties always go down well.

What is with the needing things cut up?! Mine too 🙈

Do you need one of those apple cutting tools that you just push down over the apple so it cuts into 8 chunks?

I guess a plate of cut up fruit is just more appetising than a boring cold apple out of the fruit bowl.
Mine wouldn't eat fruit either unless it's handed to them.

I find the trick is not to be available to make stuff for him, then he'll figure something out.

We’ve got a cheaper version of this that she does use.
(It’s often ‘“lost” aka half heartedly rinsed and left on draining board…)
I also (but I hate the £££) occasionally but pre-prepped fruit.

oh and if very organised I will buy a pineapple usually about a £1 or a melon usually £1.50 ish and chop them up myself…