Ideas for low calorie snacks for lunchboxes

Legacy_user

Hi,apart from fruit and carrot/cucumber sticks do any of you have some more suggestions for kids lunch boxes that are low calorie,but can fill then up?

they have a sandwich,yogurt,crisps and fruit or veg,but trying to think of things other than cake/biscuits even homemade to fill them.
i am happy to make things

babyshoes

First thing that comes to mind is rice cakes - low calorie, high bulk. Some of the flavoured ones are still quite low calorie but taste wonderful. I like the caramel and chocolate flavoured ones - they really hit the spot when I am having a sweet craving.

Popcorn made with little/no oil is low in calories and high in fibre. Experiment with spicy flavourings to keep it interesting. I have recently discovered that paprika on popcorn is yum!

Anything else high in fibre will fill them up and keep them fuller for longer than processed carbohydrates, so for example using wholegrain bread instead of white might help.

Protein is also quite filling and keeps you satisfied for quite a while, so maybe include something like a hard boiled egg, a couple of sausages or some chicken drumsticks (or veggie equivalents if they don't eat meat). If they are starving by lunch time, perhaps give them a protein based breakfast rather than cereal or toast.

Also make sure they are drinking enough - mild thirst and mild hunger are not always easy for children to distinguish between, plus a drink will fill them up a bit too.

That said, if your kids are growing, do they really NEED low calorie snacks? If they are getting enough exercise and aren't overweight they can probably handle a few HM cakes/bikkies sometimes if they are still hungry after the lunch you listed, especially if you look for somewhat healthier recipes with ingredients like oats, carrot or courgette!

zippychick

Hi toomuchmess

There are afew threads which should give you plenty of suggestions

Healthy snacks for kids]

back to school packed lunch OS ideas

Cheap snacks to fill up teenagers

Cheap/healthy snacks

Quick and easy alternative snacks

Cheap healthy playground snacks

Hope those links help - have a read and i'll merge this with the first link later on

thanks
Zip

purpleheather2810

I have the opposite problem with my dd who is almost 6 - at home she eats very well throughout the day, but at school she hardly eats anything! I think she would rather just have a snack and then go out to play, so I don't put too much in her lunchbox and I try to make it fairly nutrient dense - so at least she can get enough to keep her going! Saying that, I shouldn't worry about it too much because she has a good breakfast (low sugar cereal such as porridge, mini shreaded wheat etc) and a yoghurt drink, fruit, flapjack or cereal bar for morning break and then eats an after school snack (normally all the rest of her lunchbox!) plus a decent dinner. She is a healthy weight, I just worry about her concentration levels in the afternoon!

Sorry I'm a bit off topic there - I was just wondering why they need low calorie snacks I suppose.

System

i am asking for low calorie as my one dd is slightly overweight,i have discussed with dr about it.
She does trampolining and swimming every week,plus will go out on her bike at weekends,but puberty is just starting to show,she is asthmatic and does find exercise difficult at times and to keep going as long as her brother and sister but is a big foodie!

I know children need calories but we are having to keep an eye,but also not making an issue too.
so was looking for some suggestions to add to lunch.
in the evening they all have a piece of cake/ice cream after
there eve meal,so not deprived!

it is just hard at times as her brother is underweight! and trying to balance everyones needs and keep it interesting.

thanks for suggestions

babyshoes

toomuchmess wrote: »

i am asking for low calorie as my one dd is slightly overweight,i have discussed with dr about it....
<snip>
I know children need calories but we are having to keep an eye,but also not making an issue too.

I hope you didn't take offence to my post toomuchmess, I just wanted to make sure that you were sure that you do actually need low cal - I have heard of children ending up undernourished because their parents only fed them low fat, low calorie food - a result of the parents' own distorted body image and fear of getting fat and having fat children... I am glad you are not a parent like that and have discussed it with your doctor! :T

Rachel021967

How about giving your daughter cake or biscuit but giving her a small portion.

System

no offence taken,i know childrens bodies are different ot ours,just get stuck some times and inspiration!!

purpleheather2810

toomuchmess wrote: »

i am asking for low calorie as my one dd is slightly overweight,i have discussed with dr about it.
She does trampolining and swimming every week,plus will go out on her bike at weekends,but puberty is just starting to show,she is asthmatic and does find exercise difficult at times and to keep going as long as her brother and sister but is a big foodie!

I know children need calories but we are having to keep an eye,but also not making an issue too.
so was looking for some suggestions to add to lunch.
in the evening they all have a piece of cake/ice cream after
there eve meal,so not deprived!

it is just hard at times as her brother is underweight! and trying to balance everyones needs and keep it interesting.

thanks for suggestions

Oh I see, that's tricky then. Have you ever seen the weight watcher book "Healthy Parent, Healthy Child"? It's got some really great suggestions about how to get the balance right especially if you have one who is overweight and one who isn't but you don't want to make a big issue of it. It might be of help to you xx

P.S. Sorry I didn't mean to cause offence either, and probably shouldn't have worded my post quite the way I did!

Vaila

- little pots of jelly
-melba toast with low fat cream cheese
-plain pocorn
-rice cakes
-lettuce wraps
-exotic fruit salad

but id cut back on the desserts first and i she needs one offer a low fat yoghurt or fruit

System

thanks purpleheather i will have a look for that book,
as i said no offence taken and thanks for the ideas so far