Blog Post

Healthy Summertime Snacks For Kids
Posted on 05/15/2017

Healthy Summertime Snacks For Kids

Summer in Kahala, Hawaii, is here and that means the kids are out of school, playing with friends, and looking for non-stop snacks! The friendly staff members at Pediatric Dentistry Kahala know how busy our parents are and want to help bridge the meal gap with some easy, healthy snack recipes your kids will love. And, as your preventative dentist, Dr. Hirai has a few ideas that will also make a positive impact on those pearly whites!

Open-Face Apple Tahini Sandwich

This is a snack that kids will rave about! The multigrain or wheat bread has plentiful fiber, minerals and vitamins that your child’s teeth need. The peanut, cashew or almond butter includes protein to fill them up, plus calcium and phosphorus that help fight tooth decay. Crunchy apples are like a second toothbrush. They help keep teeth clean and get rid of bad breath.

open face apple tahini sandwich

image courtesy of Whole Foods Market

Ingredients
1 tablespoon peanut, cashew or almond butter
2 slices whole wheat or multigrain bread
1 small apple, cored and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon tahini
1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:  
Spread peanut, cashew or almond butter onto each slice of bread. Arrange apple slices on top and drizzle with tahini and honey. Sprinkle with cinnamon and transfer to a toaster oven on a small baking sheet. Toast on high until hot then serve.

Source: Whole Foods Market

Creepy Cheesy Crawler Snack

The focus of this cheesy crawler snack is, well, cheese - an important ingredient for getting calcium into your child’s diet and kids love it! The calcium found in this soft cheese can make bones and teeth stronger, while making it easy on small children’s teeth. The other ingredients are healthful and make a cute presentation that your children will want to gobble up.

Ingredients:
1 serving of Mini Babybel® Original semisoft cheese, unwrapped
1 red bell pepper
2 raisins
¼ cup of cucumber shavings
4-6 pretzel twists
1 chive (optional)

Directions:
Center the Mini Babybel Original cheese on a plate. Break a few pretzel twists, sticking four of the longer sides into each side of the cheese to make legs. Place two raisins in the center of the cheese for the eyes. Next, give the spider a smile with a sliver of red bell pepper. Place cucumber shavings at the bottom of the plate for grass. For another piece of arachno-flare, add a length of chive to the top of the spider as the silk string (optional).

Source: Babybel.com

Snail on a Log

Your child’s teeth will benefit from the nutrients and vitamins, plus the crunchy and juicy vegetables that are high in water content to wash away the bacteria from sugar.

Ingredients:
Apple
Celery
Raisins
Peanut Butter
Whole Grain Pretzels

Directions:
Cut each celery rib into thirds. Fill centers with half of the peanut butter. Spoon remaining peanut butter into small resealable food storage bag; snip one corner off to make small hole. Pipe two lines of peanut butter on one side of each apple piece, following shape of apple. Insert apple pieces into peanut butter in celery pieces. Place 2 mini morsels next to each other at one end of each piece of celery to resemble eyes. Place a pretzel piece over each eye to resemble antennas.

Source: Read, Set, Eat

Make Your Summertime Appointment Today!

Summer is the perfect time to get your child into the welcoming office of Pediatric Dentistry Kahala. With daytime schedules more flexible for most, you’re sure to find a convenient time to schedule your regular appointment at our Honolulu, Hawaii office. Our friendly, professional dental hygienists can walk you and your child through the steps of routine oral hygiene and give your teeth a thorough cleaning. You can contact us at (808) 737-0076 today to schedule your appointment. We hope you have a wonderful summer!