You've transitioned to a primal or paleo diet and you're feeling really good. It's comfortable to you and you've settled into some favored meals. But just what do you do about snacks for the little ones? Kids are burning energy at a massive rate and almost always hungry. Are there primal snack choices for them?
You bet there are! Here are quite a few primal snack ideas:
Nut butters: these are a favorite of kids everywhere. You may be trying to avoid peanuts like many other primal families. That doesn't mean your kids can't enjoy these easy spreads, however. There's a wide range of nut butter available. My family's favorite is one made locally with almonds, vanilla extract, and palm oil. It tastes so good we can't believe there's no sugar in it! You can also get butters made from cashews, sunflower seeds, and many other nuts and seeds.
You can serve nut butters in a variety of ways. My kids like them by the spoonful. You can also serve them on various veggies and fruits for a crunchy, tasty snack.
Nuts and Seeds: These of course run along the same lines as the above snack, but they're not quite as fun;) Nuts and seeds make a great "on the go" snack for you and for your kids.
You can combine nuts and seeds with berries and dried fruits for a primal trail mix. You should limit the amounts of dried fruits because drying does tend to concentrate the sugar. But as an addition to a nutrient-dense mix of nuts and seeds dried fruits really shine.
Canned fish: One of the only canned foods you'll find on a primal diet, canned fish of various kinds make good primal snacks. Fish is very good for children and most children will eat canned fish. You can make canned tuna into tuna salad and serve with celery, or serve with crunchy homemade vegetable chips.
You can also make a really good dip with canned salmon. Many children will eat sardines right out of the can.
These foods are quick and easy to serve and rich in fats and oils that enhance your child's brain development.
Smoked fish and Homemade Jerkies: These two foods are quick and easy to serve and most kids love them, especially homemade beef jerky. Smoked fish has the benefits of canned fish above, and perhaps more due to the gentler smoking process. Homemade beef jerky is very nutrient dense and great for kids' developing jaw muscle strength!
Fruits and Vegetables: Fruits and vegetables have been highlighted several times above in tandem with other things, but they also shine on their own. Serve your kids these tasty treats in the whole form most of the time. You can serve them with fat-rich dressings and saute fruits in butter for better nutrient absorption (make your own dressings). Vegetables should make up the bulk of your primal kid's carbohydrate intake.
Dairy: Some argue that dairy isn't very primal, but many primal families enjoy dairy. Milk, cheese, yogurt, and kefir can all make nutrient dense snacks your little ones will love.
Remember when you're shopping for snacks that fresh produce in season is best. Choose quality seafood and meats for snacks you're going to prepare for your children, as well. Get foods that are raised or caught ethically and cleanly if at all possible. This is best for the environment, and most importantly, these foods will give your kids the most health benefits.
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