Discover 10 Unhealthy Kid Snacks and Their Healthy Alternatives

 Frequent snacking is a part of growing up, and it is easy for kids to get drawn towards attractive packaging and enticing advertisements. Therefore, it comes down to our shoulders as mothers to save our munchkins from unhealthy kid snacks that claim to be loaded with nutrients. Let's discover 10 commonly consumed unhealthy foods for kids and their healthy alternatives.

 

10 Shocking Unhealthy Kid Snacks and their effect on children's health

Children often love to munch on smaller meals in the form of sugary delights and popular kid snacks. However, most of these popular favorite brands contain harmful ingredients, like sugar, sodium, artificial colors and flavors, preservatives, unhealthy fats, and more. Despite their questionable ingredients, these snacks have become a staple in every household. Here is a list of 10 such shockingly unhealthy kids’ snacks and their harmful effects on children’s health.

 

Chips and Fries

These deep-fried finger delights are everyone's favorite. However, they are often loaded with salt and trans-fats. Regular consumption of these snacks can raise bad cholesterol, cause obesity, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, and even respiratory disorders.

 

Chocolate Milk

Many parents try to encourage milk consumption by adding hot chocolate or chocolate powder. I have been guilty of this too! However, this can increase their preference for sweet flavors and suppresses any health benefits of consuming raw milk. In addition, chocolate milk can spike blood sugar levels within minutes. Furthermore, packaged milk is often laced with hormones that are not safe for kids and may cause PCOD and premature periods among young girls.

 

Doughnuts

No matter how tempting they seem, these dollops of bread glazed with chocolate, cream, and toppings are highly dangerous for kids' health. Doughnuts are loaded with food additives, artificial flavours, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and processed sugar. Frequent consumption of food additives like monosodium glutamate or MSG can cause obesity, headache, tissue damage, and even cancer.  

 

Butter, Jam, and Cheese

Ever imagine consuming a piece of bread without a spread of butter or jam? I bet your kids will love a spoonful of cheese with a grilled sandwich, won’t they? Although they sound like breakfast staples, butter, jam, and cheese contain saturated fats, preservatives, and chemical pollutants, posing damaging and lasting health effects for kids.

 

Also Read - Essential Kitchen Ingredients for Good Health

Candies and Lollipops

Who can turn down these sugary delights filled with artificial coloring, flavors, and loads of sugar? Trust me, these gums, candies, and lollipops have zero nutritional value. Daily consumption of such sugary treats can cause cavities, plaques, and other severe dental issues in kids.

 

Popcorn

Do you know that ready-to-cook popcorn packs are actually unhealthy?

Be it a movie night or a weekend day out, popcorn flavoured with cheese, caramel, and salt is a must-have for my kids. The ready-to-make packets have made it even easier to prepare them instantly and pack them along. 

However, the popcorn loaded with cheese, butter, etc, has reduced health benefits as compared to simple ones. In fact, the added salt, sugar, or butter simply increase fats and calories that are not needed by children.

Additionally, often considered a healthy alternative, these munchies are considered an unhealthy food for toddlers and kids under 5 years because they can pose choking hazards when they enter the windpipe and dental issues when they stick to the teeth and gums.

 

Pastries, Cakes, and Cookies

Most of these baked delights are prepared with refined flour, refined sugar, and added fats. Despite their tantalizing flavors, store-bought pastries, cakes, and cookies provide no essential nutrients. Moreover, they are loaded with calories and preservatives, posing long-term health hazards.

 

Fried, Broiled, and Grilled Foods

Despite their palatable flavours, foods like pasta, pizza, burgers, and veg patties contain lots of calories and unhealthy fats. Moreover, cooking under high temperatures releases unhealthy chemicals in these snacks, increasing the risk of heart disease and cancer in kids.

 

Fruity Snacks

The word fruit on any box works as a spell, screaming healthy. However, most of the fruity snacks are prepared using corn syrup, artificial colors, food coloring, and artificial flavors. Although they may taste like a favourite fruit to your kids, they have no trace of fruit in them. Plus, they are loaded with preservatives that may cause obesity, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar when consumed for long periods.

 

Sweetened Yogurt And Canned Drinks

How come yogurt is an unhealthy food for preschoolers? Believe it or not, even sweetened yogurt is loaded with artificial flavors, sugar, and preservatives to mask all its benefits and categorize it as unhealthy. Likewise, canned drinks are a health hazard for kids, and their long-term consumption can deteriorate tooth enamel, cause dental issues, obesity, and even severe digestive issues in kids. 

 

Healthy Alternatives to Unhealthy Kids' Foods

Now you must be thinking, “My kids are crazy about these snacks! How shall I stop them from taking any of these?” 

This struggle is obvious for every mom! But here is the kicker. We do not have to stop our kids from having snacks; we just need to replace the unhealthy ones with healthier alternatives. 

What! Is it even possible? 

Well, the answer is yes! 

Most of these snacks can be prepared at home to give a healthier alternative to kids. For example, replace fries and chips with home-baked potato chips and crackers. Replace chocolate powder with homemade protein powder, which not only enhances the taste of milk but also strengthens the mind and body. 

Replace aerated drinks with lemonade, coconut water, or freshly prepared fruit smoothies.

Here are some delicious homemade snacks to substitute for unhealthy junk items:

 

Roasted Makhana or Gur Makhana

Makhanas are a rich source of calcium and protein with a low-calorie index. You can prepare them sweet or salty, depending on the flavour your child prefers.

Roasted Makhana Recipe - Toast the makhanas in ghee until crisp. Add salt, black pepper, and chaat masala to enhance the tangy flavour.  Serve whenever your kids crave deep-fried chips.

Crispy Gur Makhana Recipe - My kids love this recipe. To prepare gur makhana, dry roast fox nuts in a skillet until they are crisp. Keep them aside and add 1 teaspoon of ghee and jaggery to the skillet. Let it melt and switch off the flame. Add roasted makhanas and give a good stir so that the faux nuts are coated with a layer of melted jaggery. 

Sprinkle some white sesame seeds on top. Separate the makhanas before serving, as they may stick together because of the jaggery. This recipe takes only five minutes to prepare, and your kids will crave more of it.

 

Jaggery Ladoos

Replace the sugar-filled candies with delicious jaggery ladoos. Add oats and a variety of nuts to make them healthier.

Homemade dry fruits laddoos are way better than unhealthy pastries and candies!

Recipe - Individually dry roast nuts like almonds, cashews, pistachios, and walnuts. Keep aside to cool. Dry roast seeds like melon seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds. Add to the nuts. Dry roast makhanas, peanuts, and oats. Keep aside to cool. 

Once everything is cool enough. Add them to a blender and prepare a fine powder. Add a teaspoon of ghee with some jaggery in a skillet. Once it melts, switch off the flame and add the powdered ingredients. Once everything is mixed, prepare small ball-sized ladoos. 

 

Sprouted Moong Salad

This one is easy to prepare, tasty, and healthy at the same time. Add your kids' favourite veggies to sprouted moong. Top up with pomegranate, lemon, and chaat masala for a tangy twist. You can even fill it inside bread to prepare sandwiches served with homemade ketchup, dips, or chutneys.

 

Homemade Dips (Chutneys) And Ketchups

There are a variety of recipes when it comes to homemade chutneys. You can prepare them sweet or salty, depending on the taste preference of your kids. Traditional green chutney prepared with onion, coriander, mint, and spices is a no-fail companion for homemade fritters. My kids favour a pinch of sweetness, so I prepare a sweeter version with tomatoes, coriander, spices, and a hint of sugar. Here is a quick recipe for homemade tomato ketchup.

Recipe - Put a thick-bottomed cooker or crock-pot on the stove. Add diced tomatoes, water, cloves, mustard powder, ground black pepper, and salt to taste. You can also add onion and garlic powder to enhance flavors. Stir frequently and cook until the mixture acquires a thick consistency. Blend and strain the mixture, and your homemade ketchup is ready to be served.

 

Homemade Mango Fruity

You heard me right! You can actually prepare mango fruit juice at home, and I bet your kids won’t be able to tell any difference. Here is a quick recipe for you.

Make mango fruit juice at home, just like packaged juice, but healthy!

Recipe - Take ripe and raw mangoes in the ratio 2:1. That means for two cups of chopped ripe mangoes, you will need 1 cup of chopped raw mango. 

Put a pan on the stove and add the mango slices. Add 1 ½ cups of water and cook over medium flame until the mango turns soft and pulpy. Once the mixture cools, transfer and blend it to a smooth consistency. 

Sieve through a strainer. Prepare sugar syrup by mixing 1 ½ cup of sugar in 1 ½ cup of boiling water. Combine the cooled, clear syrup with the strained mango pulp. Add cold water as needed to adjust the taste and consistency.

 

10 Minutes Layered Coffee Cake

If your kids crave chocolates like mine, I bet you will love this coffee cake recipe that tastes even better than chocolate. The best part is that it can be prepared with simple ingredients in no time.

Recipe - Mix 2 ½ teaspoons of coffee powder in 1 teaspoon of hot water. Add ½ cup powdered sugar and ¼ cup refined oil to a mixing bowl or blender. Once they are well combined, add 1 cup sieved wheat flour and 1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder. 

Next, add milk bit by bit until everything is well combined and the batter attains ribbon consistency. Divide into two parts. Add the coffee powder mix in one part. 

Next, grease a baking container with oil and line its bottom with butter paper. Now, keep adding two tablespoons of the cake mix from each part, alternately, in the middle of the greased container. 

You will see layers of two colors being formed. Once all the batter is added to the container, microwave it for 8 minutes. Your fluffy cake will be ready to serve in just 8 minutes. In case, you don't have a microwave, you can also cook it on the stove in a preheated skillet.

 

Swap unhealthy choices with these healthy replacements to make snack time fun and provide added nutrition at the same time.

 

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FAQs related to Unhealthy Kids' Snacks

 

Q- Why is kids’ food unhealthy?

Ans - Packaged kid foods contain addictive flavors, colors, and sugar to enhance taste. They are laced with preservatives to increase shelf life, making them unhealthy for consumption.

 

Q- Why do kids prefer unhealthy foods?

Ans- These foods are laced with added flavors and addictive substances to entice children. Some packets also advertise free gifts and goodies inside to attract young kids.

 

Q- What are the tips for making homemade foods attractive to kids?

Ans- Presentation is the key to making homemade food attractive. Try serving it differently and add bright-colored ingredients. Make it flavorful by adding spices. Serve in unique, fancy cutlery with distinctive designs.