How to pick quick, healthy snacks for your family

Developing good eating habits benefits a person in the long run of life. Our selection of food reflects the habits that we have acquired over a long period of time. 

Our food habits are influenced by our cultural background, religious beliefs, social norms, geographical location, and the availability of particular food items. 

Good food habits can be developed. The environment plays an important part in determining what a person is and will be. Food influences the social and emotional growth as well as the chemical and physical growth of a person. 

As we eat three main meals in a day, but along with that we also eat snacks. As per the kids, the most important part is when they eat snacks. Because as children have a low appetite and they just want food tasty and in small portion. 

The thing they actually want is variety. Because kids get bored with anything very easily. But like food is the crucial part of their life, as they are growing, they need important nutrients, but the food should also be in the best form then they will eat otherwise and will start ignoring the phone for sure. 

It does not matter when one eats. It is more important to consider what one eats and how much. It is beneficial to have snack time. Kids who have small appetites may eat more often by the way of snacks, and thereby meeting their physical needs. 

Some people find it better than the three-meal pattern because that is the best way to receive adequate calories and nutrients by eating more often. Children and adolescents who seem to be always hungry can satisfy their appetite by eating nutritious snacks. 

Now serving every day new snacks or variety of snacks with the healthy option also. Some mothers find it difficult, but the other women who are having a joint family then also find it difficult to make a large number of snacks and the tase should also be good. 

Now how to pick a snack. Now you will be having questions about which nutrient should be included. Here are the nutrients which should be supplied by snacks are:

Carbohydrates- Carbohydrates rich foods can be given at the time of snacks. Fruits like banana, apple, sapota, guava can be given, along with that milkshakes are also options.

Protein- Snacks should supply a good amount of protein using cereals, legumes, nuts, milk, and milk products, and animal sources such as almonds, cashew nuts, milk, cheese, or a combination like egg puda, egg chilla, idli, dosa, uthappam, and rolls. There are plenty of options. 

Fat- Fat should be used in less amount. You can go for shallow frying over deep frying. There is also a way like roasting. This kind of habit makes the food healthy. 

Fiber- Fruits and vegetables are the best sources of fiber. Which is best for digestion also. 

Vitamins- As Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine this vitamin should be provided through the diet. Vitamin A-rich vegetables are carrot, dark green leafy vegetables, and tomatoes. 

Minerals- Most of the shakes and milk are high in calcium and phosphorus. Fruits and vegetables are high in minerals. 

Here are some snacks of stated. which are nutritious for health. 

1. Rajsthani famous snack- Kanji vada

This food is made up of moong dal which is a good source of plant-based protein. Along with that it also contains curd, which is a good source of calcium, probiotics, protein. Along with these, the texture of the kanji vada is soft and they contain hardly 2 spices like salt and black pepper. And sugar is optional. It is good for digestion as it contains probiotics like curd. 

2. Gujrat's famous snack- Dhokla 

A soft textured, yellow square is dhokla. They are a mixture of sweet and salty. They are made up of different flour, it depends on the person what he wants to choose. Flour like besan, rice, rice flakes, semolina kind of used in dhokla. With dhokla, the chutney of 2 types is served. One is spicy chutney and the other one is turmeric chutney which is sour in taste.

3. Punjabi's favorite snack is-  Chole chaat 

As its name indicate chaat, is filled with chickpea, curd, different types of chutney like spicy, set, and sour like turmeric along with that there will be chopped vegetable onion, tomato, and cabbage. There also masala like chaat masala, red chilly, salt. And there will be smashed chickpea and the taste is beyond the words. It is high in protein as there is chickpea and curd. Along with that, it is also high in carbohydrates and low in fat. There is also fiber content. 

4. Maharathra's snack- Thalipeeth

It is Made up of many different flours there will be jowar flour, ragi flour, rice flour, wheat flour, sago flour, and soybean flour, along with there are vegetables like grated bottle gourd, onion, carrot, reddish. It is high in protein, carbohydrates, fiber and low in fat. It is heavy, healthy, tasty and a good option for all age groups. The texture is soft and it is served with curd or any chutney. 

5. The snacks of Karnataka is- Mysore masala dosa

This is a fermented snack, which is good for your digestion. Along with that, it is made up of rice and urad dal. And there are potatoes and other vegetable mixture in it. With dosa, the chutney and sometimes sambhar are also served. The texture of the dosa is crispy and tasty. As it is high in carbohydrates, protein and low in fat. The vegetable content in sambhar is good and gives you fiber. Perfect snack for your little one. 

6. Delhil's famous snack is- Parthas

The best way to feed vegetables to kids. You can grate any vegetables like carrot, radish, bottle gourd, onion along with the mashed potatoes are also there. They are put inside the parathas. And with butter or ghee, it is cooked. It is high in carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and a moderate amount of fat/butter. It will have a blast of flavor in your mouth. 

They are the best snacks from some states you should try this week. 

Stay healthy and stay safe.