20 Snacking Tips To Stop Your Kids From
Sabotaging Your Weight Loss Program!
by Kim Beardsmore

If you're a stay-at-home mom on a diet, you can probably relate to a situation I frequently encounter as a weight loss consultant.

Many of my clients — with children — are able to keep to a healthy eating plan through most circumstances... Except two!

But, it all starts to go astray when the kids come home from school, or when they start preparing the school lunches. It's no surprise really...

Kids love the snacks we buy from the supermarket, and parents love them because they are quick and easy to throw into the lunch box, or for kids to grab from the shelves in the pantry. Small bags of chips, tasty bite size crackers, sodas and the like.

No problem...

Except, when it comes to mom's weight loss program... Mom LOVES them too!

These products are high in fat, high in energy, and high in refined sugars. And after one, two, or three nibbles, it's possible to wrack up 500 unwanted calories. This single act will probably stall your weight loss, or even worse!

There is a way to stop your kids from sabotaging your weight loss. Here are 20 snack ideas for kids that will do far less damage to your weight loss program, if mom nibbles — just a little!

1. Chop up ½ tinned pear or other fruit in natural juice and set in 200 ml. of low calorie jelly. Make up into individual disposable plastic containers with lids.
   
   
2. Cut up crisp vegetable sticks with dipping sauce - ranch, peanut (satay), sweet chili or tomato.
   
   
3. Cut celery sticks 6-8 cm, fill with cottage cheese and top with sultanas or chopped nuts.
   
   
4. Combine a mixture of low fat hard cheese cubes, nuts and dried fruits in plastic wrap or a lunch bag.
   
   
5. Roll up thin slices of carrot and celery with grated cheese in a slice of cold meat. Secure with toothpick. Slice the carrot and celery with a vegetable peeler for really thin slices.
   
   
6. Cut oranges into quarters and freeze on trays. Put into plastic bags for a fruity ice block.
   
   
7. Meatball surprise. Next time you are making meatloaf, double the quantity and make a batch of meatballs. These are great in lunch boxes cold. Add a slice of pineapple with a toothpick to each meatball. Add dipping tomato sauce if required.
   
   
8. Mini quiches… Make a batch of crust-less quiche and cook in muffin tray. Each 'muffin' will be a wonderful healthy snack for kids.
   
   
9. Chilled fruit surprise - slice a combination of strawberries, bananas, kiwi fruit, watermelon, grapes or in season fruit. Place in small resealable plastic container. Top with apple juice; do not overfill. Seal, freeze. When packed in lunch box, will keep sandwiches cool and prove a refreshing treat on a hot day.
   
   
10. Rice cakes spread with mashed avocado, mashed banana and cinnamon, or try mashed avocado, sliced tomato and sprouts.
    
    
11. Chopped hard-boiled egg served with low fat Mayonnaise, salt, pepper on a crisp bread.
    
    
12. Leaf wrappers: wrap a cheese finger, celery stick and carrot stick in a lettuce leaf. Wrap in foil and place in lunch box Contents will be kept moist.
    
    
13. Yogurt tub.
    
    
14. Baby Bell Cheese and low fat cracker.
    
    
15. Creamy dates: slice dates lengthwise, remove stone. Fill with Philadelphia cream cheese (low fat).
    
    
16. Quick sausage rolls: wrap a skinned (good quality) sausage in several sheets of filet pastry. Brush pastry with beat egg to glaze. Cut into desired lengths. Bake in moderately hot oven for 15-20 minutes. Rolls can be frozen.
    
    
17. Same as above but use fresh chicken breast strips and cut to 2" - use tomato or favorite dipping sauce.
    
    
18. After school hot snack attack: Spread a round of pita bread with tomato paste and herbs. Top with tomato, ham, mortadella, add onion, sliced mushrooms or pineapple. Sprinkle grated low fat hard cheese over pita bread. Grill to make a tasty pizza. If no pita bread is available, substitute a crisp bread.
    
    
19. Fruity kebabs: place bite size pieces of fruit in season on kebab skewers.
    
    
20. Pop top sandwich tuna tin, crisp bread, sachet of mayonnaise. Kids can put their snack together at school so that it doesn't go soggy.

Remember, fresh is best, both for yourself and your children.

By substituting these ideas for some of the prepackaged snack food and cookies your kids eat, you will be doing both them and yourself a favor.

(c) Copyright Kim Beardsmore

About the author: Kim Beardsmore is a successful weight loss coach who will cut through the diet-hype and help you reach your goal weight. No public 'weigh-ins', meetings that cost you money or fads... simple results you will love! You can receive a free consultation and more information at: http://tinyurl.com/6l2cd

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