As a parent you may find it challenging to provide your children with healthy, tasty and creative snacks before a kids mud run event. Time constraints, picky eaters, food budgets and limited ideas are a few barriers you may face during preperation process for a kids mud run when planning and preparing snacks to keep them at their peak performance level.
Encourage your children to help you prepare their own snacks and lunches for the kids obstacle race. This will give them ownership of their food choices and help them develop healthy eating habits.
Try one of these quick and easy snacks before and after your next kids mud run event:
CRACKERS WITH CHEESE, PEANUT BUTTER OR HUMMUS
Look for whole wheat crackers such as Triscuits, Ak-Mak, Rye Krisps or Breton. Choose crackers that contain no partially or fully hydrogenated oil and have at least three grams of fiber per serving.
VEGETABLES WITH LOW-FAT DRESSING OR HUMMUS
Try vegetables such as baby carrots, grape tomatoes, green or red sweet pepper slices. Add whole-grain crackers, pretzels or pita chips for additional crunch and flavor. This is a colorful and tasty snack packed with fiber and vitamins such as vitamins A and C.
FRUIT WITH PRETZELS, CEREAL OR GRANOLA BARS
Smart pretzel choices include Snyder’s of Hanover whole grain varieties, Utz, Nature’s Promise. Nature Valley, Kashi or Full Circle granola bars are great options. For cereal, try whole-grain options such as Cheerios, Rice or Wheat Chex, Kashi Heart-to-Heart Cereal, Barbara’s Bakery Puffins or Shredded Spoonfuls, or Kix. Purchase small, reusable containers for the pretzels or cereal. This will encourage children to take home what they do not finish during the family mud run and teaches them to not waste food.
YOGURT AND FRUIT PILE-UPS
Pack a container of yogurt with berries (look for fresh or frozen blueberries, raspberries or strawberries) and granola or their favorite crunchy cereal in individual, reusable containers. Also, put in a cup and spoon and have them layer the different the yogurt, fruit and granola in their cup or maybe they just want to mix it all together.
The possibilities for snacks are endless! Be creative, ask your children for their input and make preparing snacks a fun activity for you and your children. Use this time together to talk, share stories about previous kids mud runs, solve problems or simply be together.
LET KIDS BUILD THEIR OWN SNACKS
Pack celery sticks or pretzel logs, peanut butter or low-fat cream cheese, or even hummus and raisins, and have them make “ants on a log.”
Kids also love to make crunchy fruit dippers. They’ll need cut-up fruit (slices of apple, orange, banana, peach, plum, strawberries or grapes) and a container of yogurt. Try low-fat Stonyfield Farm, Dannon All-Natural, Brown Cow or other natural yogurt varieties.
Don’t forget the spoon and fork. Fill a small reusable container or plastic bag with your child’s favorite cereal. Flax seed, wheat germ, low-fat granola, oatmeal or sunflower seeds are also great options.
These suggestions provide not only additional nutrients but also crunch, which most children love. Show children how to spear a piece of fruit with their fork (hands also work well but it can be quite messy), dip it in the yogurt and then dunk it in a crispy topping. This is a delicious and creative snack that the whole family before a family obstacle race in NJ, NY, PA or MA can enjoy.
ABOUT AUTHOR: JD