Vitamin-packed after school snacks

It can be hard to get enough vitamins into your kids’ diets at the best of times. This is especially true when they go back to school after the summer holidays and you’re left guessing as to whether that healthy packed lunch went into their belly or the bin (perhaps it was even replaced by a greasy sausage roll). Thankfully, it’s easier to keep an eye on what they are eating when they get home, so instead of having them reach for the crisps in the gap between home-time and dinner, have some of our vitamin-packed after school snacks ready instead. These can help bridge the gap and they all pack a mighty health punch as well!

Our snack recipes below all contain foods that can help with that after school slump. Kale, the key component in our kale crisps recipe, contains massive amounts of vitamin K. Vitamin K contributes to the maintenance of normal bones, so will keep them strong and healthy for all those after school activities. The dried apricots in our cranberry and apricot energy boosters contain huge amounts of vitamin A, which contributes to the maintenance of normal vision. This may come in handy when they are staring at that homework booklet well into the evening. In addition, the three main ingredients in our carrot, peach and watermelon smoothie will all provide a healthy dose of vitamin C which contributes to the normal function of the immune system and will hopefully keep those pesky back-to-school colds at bay. Not only that, but they all taste absolutely yummy, so getting those extra vitamins in their diet is a breeze.

Kale crisps with smoky paprika salt

Based on a recipe from The Guardian

Makes one medium bowl 

• 200g curly kale, washed thoroughly
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp good quality salt
• ½ tsp smoked paprika

Heat the oven to 120˚C. Cut the stems out of your kale and chop the rest into rough pieces. Use a tea-towel or salad spinner to thoroughly dry the kale – it needs to be completely dry in order to crisp up once it’s in the oven.

Put the dried kale into a large bowl and drizzle over the olive oil. Massage the oil into every crevice so that each individual piece is covered. Then add the salt and paprika and toss to coat.

Line a couple of baking trays with baking parchment and spread the kale evenly across them in a single layer. Bake for about 30 minutes, swapping the trays over in the oven halfway through.

Remove the trays from the oven and turn the oven off. Using a spatula, detach the crisps from the trays. Check your seasoning and add more if necessary, then put them back in the switched off oven for another 15 minutes to fully crisp up.

Cranberry and apricot energy booster

Based on a recipe from BBC Good Food

Makes twelve 

• 100g soft dried apricots
• 200g soft dried dates
• 100g dried cranberries
• 4 tsp coconut oil
• 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

Put the apricots, dates and cranberries in a food processor and blend until very finely chopped. Tip this mixture into a large bowl and add the coconut oil. Use your hands to work in the coconut oil and once everything is evenly mixed, form into twelve even balls. Sprinkle the sesame seeds on a plate and roll the balls in the sesame seeds until evenly coated.

N.B. These can be stored in an airtight container afterwards, so you are always prepared for those after-school cravings.

Carrot, peach and watermelon smoothie

Serves two 

• 120g watermelon flesh, chopped into chunks
• 1 large carrot
• 225g peaches, stones removed and chopped into chunks
• Forever Bee Honey, to taste

Add the watermelon pieces to a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Strain this mixture through a sieve into a jug. Discard any seeds left in the sieve.

Chop the carrot into smallish chunks. Put the carrot and a splash of water into the food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Then add the peach pieces and blend again until smooth.

Pour the carrot and peach juice into the jug with your watermelon. Give it a good mix and have a little taste. If it needs a little more sweetness, add a squirt of Forever Bee Honey and mix well.

If you make any of our vitamin recipes, please send us a photo. Or, if you have any vitamin-packed after school snacks recipes of your own, please share in the comments below. We look forward to seeing your creations!