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If you're a mom reception on a diet, you'll probably associated with a frequent situation I encounter as a weight loss consultant. Many of my clients with children are ready to keep to a healthy eating plan through most circumstances except two. It all starts to travel astray when the youngsters click from school, or once they are preparing school lunches.
It's no surprise really. Kids love snacks we buy from the supermarket, and fogeys love them because they're quick and straightforward to throw into the lunchbox or for teenagers to grab from the shelves within the pantry. Small bags of chips, tasty bite size crackers, sodas and therefore the like. No problem. Except when it involves 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 an unwanted 500 calories. This single act will probably stall your weight loss or maybe worse!
To stop your kids from sabotaging your weight loss efforts, here are 20 snack ideas for teenagers which will do far less damage to your weight loss program if mom nibbles (just a little).
1. chop ½ tinned pear or other fruit in natural juice and set in 200mls of low calorie jelly. structure into individual disposable plastic containers with lids.
2. hack crisp vegetable sticks with dipping sauce - ranch, peanut (satay), sweet chili or tomato.
3. Cut celery sticks 6-8 cm, fill with pot cheese and top with sultanas or chopped nuts.
4. Combine a mix of low fat misfortune cubes, nuts and dried fruits in wrapping or a lunch bag.
5. Roll up thin slices of carrot and celery with cheese during 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're making meatloaf, double the number and make a batch of meatballs. These are great in lunchboxes cold. Add a slice of pineapple with a toothpick to every meatball. Add dipping spaghetti sauce if required.
8. Mini quiches….make a batch of crust-less quiche and cook in muffin tray. Each 'muffin' are going to be an exquisite healthy snack for teenagers .
9. Chilled fruit surprise - slice a mixture of strawberries, bananas, kiwi , watermelon, grapes or in season fruit. Place in small resealable plastic container. Top with apple juice; don't overfill. Seal, freeze. When packed in lunchbox, 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 boiled egg served with low fat mayo, salt, pepper on a crisp bread.
12. Leaf wrappers: wrap a cheese finger, crudites and crudites during a lettuce leaf. Wrap in foil and place in lunchbox. Contents are going to be kept moist.
13. Yoghurt tub.
14. Baby Bell Cheese and low fat cracker.
15. Creamy dates: slice dates lengthways, remove stone. Fill with Philadelphia cheese (low fat).
16. Quick sausage rolls: wrap a skinned (good quality) sausage in several sheets of filo pastry. Brush pastry with beat egg to glaze. dig desired lengths. Bake in moderately hot oven for 15-20 minutes. Rolls are often frozen.
17. Same as above but use fresh pigeon breast strips and move 2" - use tomato or favorite dipping sauce
18. After school hot snack attack: Spread a round of pita bread with ingredient and herbs. Top with tomato, ham, mortadella, add onion, sliced mushrooms or pineapple. Sprinkle grated low fat misfortune over pita bread. Grill to form a tasty pizza. If no pita bread is out there , 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 college in order that it doesn't go soggy.
Remember fresh is best both for yourself and your children. By substituting these ideas for a few of the prepackaged dish and cookies your kids eat you'll be doing both them and yourself a favor.
(c) 2004 Kim Beardsmore