My kids constantly hungry. Please suggest some healthy snacks

[Mamabearwhere]

DC are 6 and 4 and we eat very healthy as a family but this summer holiday the are constantly asking for something to eat . I’m talking 30mins after lunch they want something to eat. Im 8 months pregnant with baby 3 so fed up with constantly getting up to make something.

They’re both slim and healthy and very active with various sports and running around. I’m looking for healthy and quick snack and meal ideas, please share what you give your kids. I shop online weekly so often buy the same things and don’t explore much like I would if I was physically in the supermarket.

If they are hungry 30 mins after meals then they need larger meals with more protein and make sure they are drinking enough. I would make extra of the meal and if ask for food within an hour of finishing the meal just offer them seconds.

I like to mix peanut or almond butter with some fruit and veggie purée (I use Ella's Kitchen pouches). I either put it in a lentil cake (like rice cakes but less gross) and sandwich them together or rolled up in a wrap.

Another option if you they are craving something sweet is to mix almond butter with assorted seeds (I normally do pumpkin, sunflower and chia but anything will work) and stuff it into pitted medjool dates. Make enough for you to have some too. They are delicious but surprisingly filling. Which is good as dates are so sugary.

Is it habit? Do they do it when you're out? What do you give them when they ask 30 minutes after a meal?
If you post what they eat in a typical day maybe we could advise how to fill them up more.

@Pissinthepottyplease they already eat quite high protein meals, they don’t have massive portions but normal size for their age. I can’t force them to eat more if I tried as they say they’re full when they’re feel full.

@ChaosMoon those sound great will give it a go. We do eat a lot of nuts and dates but worth jazzing up like you’ve suggested.

@starbrightstarlight8888 I don’t know if it’s habit, could be but at the same time I don’t feel like I can just ignore or say no when they say they’re hungry.

Typical days food;

Breakfast: peanut butter toast, berries glass of milk. On weekends it’s protein pancakes (I use nut butter, bananas, almond flour etc so really filling)

Lunch: Tuna and wholewheat pasta, with some kind of veg like peas or broccoli

Dinner: really varies but options are home made chicken curry and rice, pasta bolognese, salmon and roast potatoes, baked chicken and veg/rice, meatballs, turkey burgers, kebabs sticks. I cook everything myself and often put extra veg in mixtures.

In between those meals is the constant snacking of

• yogurt
• nuts
• home made fruity/veggie lollies
• dried fruit
• fresh fruit
• dates
• crisps and biscuits (not often but they do have these too)

I would do snacks of chicken, cheese, ham and peanut butter rice cakes, olives, nuts, carrot sticks. My kids are also constantly hungry - age 3 and 4

More protein and fat with their meals if they're hungry 30 mins after.

For snacks, mine like oatcakes or rice cakes with peanut butter or cream cheese, chopped veg with hummus (can chop veg in advance and leave in fridge), berries with greek yoghurt or crackers with cheese. Things like cereal bars or brioche are quick and easy, but won't fill them up for long.

Apple slices with peanut butter are popular here, along with carrot sticks and Philadelphia (mostly they eat haribo and crisps though…)

[quote Mamabearwhere]@Pissinthepottyplease they already eat quite high protein meals, they don’t have massive portions but normal size for their age. I can’t force them to eat more if I tried as they say they’re full when they’re feel full.

@ChaosMoon those sound great will give it a go. We do eat a lot of nuts and dates but worth jazzing up like you’ve suggested.

@starbrightstarlight8888 I don’t know if it’s habit, could be but at the same time I don’t feel like I can just ignore or say no when they say they’re hungry.

Typical days food;

Breakfast: peanut butter toast, berries glass of milk. On weekends it’s protein pancakes (I use nut butter, bananas, almond flour etc so really filling)

Lunch: Tuna and wholewheat pasta, with some kind of veg like peas or broccoli

Dinner: really varies but options are home made chicken curry and rice, pasta bolognese, salmon and roast potatoes, baked chicken and veg/rice, meatballs, turkey burgers, kebabs sticks. I cook everything myself and often put extra veg in mixtures.

In between those meals is the constant snacking of

• yogurt
• nuts
• home made fruity/veggie lollies
• dried fruit
• fresh fruit
• dates
• crisps and biscuits (not often but they do have these too)[/quote]

Then make more and offer it to them again later so your not repeatedly making snacks or give them free access to the fruit bowl.

For snack ideas I can recommend WellEasy as they have a bunch of healthy snacks (that actually taste good) and are much cheaper than ones you can find at major supermarkets. I tend to use them a lot as I find myself snacking often and need to cut out the unhealthy ones.

Dont be afraid to say no to snack requests especially if 30mins after an unfinished meal. Have a designated snack time, plus a window where you can just redirect them to the fruit bowl.