frugal snacks for kids

**tillergirl** · 11-19-2007, 07:02 AM

Hi there

I'd love to hear your frugal ideas for healthy kids snacks.

Hugs,

Pam.

**esther25** · 12-03-2007, 04:58 AM

Cut all the fruits with mix of honey and add dryfruits also. It is very good energy food for kids.

**sunshine** · 12-03-2007, 09:36 AM

I used to make:

mini pizzas from canned biscuits

tortilla wraps with cream cheese and various leftovers

french toast sticks with various dipping sauces

quick breads

leftover fruits became frozen fruit pops or smoothies

and of course -- popcorn

**nodmicks** · 12-03-2007, 10:04 AM

My kids mostly snack of wheat PB&J sandwiches or the jerkey dh makes.

There are lots of really cheap snacks but we try to keep nutrition in mind so very few white crackers, bread etc. We also buy nuts but that sure isn't cheap.

**PB&J** · 12-03-2007, 11:23 AM

Pretzels are a favorite of my 2 year old. Also, cubed cheese, I buy a big block, grate half and then cube the other half. Cheaper than buying it pre-cubed and pre-grated. Saltine crackers (store brand) and cream cheese, my 8 year old loves this. Also, peanut butter and crackers or apples. Raisins, tortillas, popcorn is really cheap if you just buy a big bag of kernals, you only need a quarter to half cup of kernals for a big bowl of popcorn. Whatever fruit is cheap, right now it is apples and oranges. Carrots and celery with ranch dip, even my picky eater loves that! Hard boiled eggs, my 11 year old loves them for an after school snack. Also, dried fruit, especially cranberries, mine all love those.

I make homemade cookies often, those no-bake kind with oatmeal and peanut butter. I toss in a handful of ground flax seeds and make them extra nutritious. Also, when I bake cookies, I use half whole wheat flour. It makes the cookies a little 'heavier' but doesn't change the flavor any.

**joyofsix** · 12-03-2007, 11:59 AM

Our top snacks
air popped popcorn, toast and cinnamon or peanut butter, crackers and pb, bananas(Aldi), homemade muffins,cookies or granola bars

**Neeley** · 12-03-2007, 02:14 PM

Our kids (ages 12 & 14) are big fruit and raw veggie eaters so the majority of what we get on a weekly basis is fruit and a few raw veggies. Our snack items may not be the cheapest or most frugal, but they are healthy and they are what our kids prefer. Every week we normally get the following items for their snacking pleasures......

~~Bananas (3 lbs - $1.14 at Sam's)
~~Green Granny Smith apples (8 lbs - $6.88 at Sam's)
~~Red Granny Smith apples (8 lbs - $6.88 at Sam's)
~~Naval Oranges (10 lbs - $8.87 at Sam's)
~~Pomegranates (4 of them - $7.88 at Sam's)
~~Organic baby carrots (5lbs - $4.46 at Sam's)
~~Celery hearts (3 pack - $2.88)
~~Watermelon (15 lbs - $10.40 at Winn Dixie - average price $0.69/pound)

~~Polly-Os string cheese (24 count - $4.98 at Wal-Mart) **We only have to buy this every two weeks instead of weekly like the rest**

All of the prices are from our receipts from this week's shopping trips.

**Momto2Boyz** · 12-05-2007, 02:18 PM

Here are my boys favorite snack choices (they are 3 & 6):

popcorn
homemade soft pretzels (i think they like making them as much as eating them)
cornbread (weird for a snack, but they love it)
homemade lunchables (crackers & sliced cheese & cut up sandwich meat)
butter noodles (or ramen)
cinnamon tortilla strips (cut up tortilla, spread small amt of butter on top, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, put in broiler for a minute then cut into strips)

**SaucyCranberry** · 12-27-2007, 01:57 AM

My kids are awesome fruit/veggie eaters (unlike their mom) so I always keep fresh apples, bananas and baby carrots on hand, and seasonally other fruits and veggies as prices allow.

Another thing I introduced them to was "peanut butter pops" just a scoop of pb on a spoon, and they love it. Sticks to their ribs all afternoon. (PB on toast or graham crackers, too.)

Homemade smoothies made with milk or yogurt (especially to use up ripening bananas).

Raisins (mixed w/ nuts for extra protein and fat).

Cheese slices with crackers

Summer sausage cubes

**Rebecca22** · 12-28-2007, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by joyofsix

Our top snacks
air popped popcorn, toast and cinnamon or peanut butter, crackers and pb, bananas(Aldi), homemade muffins,cookies or granola bars

Would you mind sharing some of your kids' favorite muffin recipes? I tried one from my cookbook but it was not a huge hit.

**hmcart** · 12-30-2007, 01:06 AM

mine love crackers with sliced cheese and bacon bits heated for a few minutes in the oven. Maybe not the most nutricious though. I have ggod eaters so it is easy to please them.

**missyali** · 12-30-2007, 11:09 PM

my dh likes graham crackers with pb and raisins.

**mommy4ever** · 12-31-2007, 12:30 AM

homemade: banana bread, pumpkin bread, cookies, bread.

carrots and dips
fruit and yogurt
apple and peanut butter
pudding pops(instant yogurt frozen into popsicles)
fruit pops(left over smoothies frozen into popsicles).
smoothies
pb&j
cinnamon toast
french toast
pancakes
dried fruit
waffles(homemade)
leftovers