Affordable Snacks for the Grandies!

In case you hadn’t already noticed, children eat a lot! Somewhere in the range of 2,200-2,500 calories a day for 11-15 year olds, and around 3,000 calories a day for older teens. That intake can rise to up to 5,000 calories a day for very active teens. When the grandies come to stay, the last thing on mum or dad’s mind, is sending a food parcel with them. While meals are more manageable, it’s the snacks that really eat into the wallet. So, if you don’t want to see your bank balance plummet, check out the following ideas to fill up those hungry tummies in the ‘in-between hours!’

Home-made wedges pack a punch in both calories, fibre, and filling, and they can be prepared in bulk and reheated in the microwave or frying pan. Chop washed potatoes (Agria are best) into wedges, dry them on a clean dish towel, and pile them into a large roasting dish. Add a couple of tablespoons of cooking oil and use clean hands to work it into the wedges. Sprinkle over, and stir in, 2-3 tablespoons of cumin or sesame seed, or a shake of powdered stock, curry powder, or your favourite seasoning mix. Roast the coated wedges (stirring occasionally) until they are tender and browned.

It’s fact, food takes time to settle in the stomach before a feeling of ‘fullness’ is achieved. Which is why taking time to chat over a meal helps us feel full at its conclusion. Slow down the rate at which the grandies gobble by supervising them as they mix up, and then cook, their own snacks on novel appliances. To do this, head to the op-shop for pancake, muffin, pie, and waffle makers. The appliances go for a song, and you can always return them (or swop them with another grandparent) when the novelty wears off!

Forget the pre-made popcorn in its foil packets, and head to your local bulk buy or supermarket for the real deal. Popping corn is inexpensive and it bulks up into a healthy snack food in minutes. What’s more, it’s fun to make. For recipes and microwaving techniques, check out one of the many dedicated pages on the net. If you want to keep things super simple, ask at your local op-shop about pop-corn makers. Popcorn can be given the sweet-treatment with a light coating of toffeed honey or golden syrup (keep little fingers away from the hot toffee!).

Part of the fun of visiting grandparents is looking forward to dessert – but the pud doesn’t have to come straight after the main course. Save dessert for supper, and send the kids to bed feeling satisfied without having to seek out snacks.

Fruit couldn’t get any more costly if it tried, yet past-their-best bananas remain reliably affordable. Buy them up in bulk whenever you see them, peel them, chop them into pieces, and stash them in your freezer (coating them in a dash of lemon juice will help prevent browning). Keep your eye out for other freezable fruit seconds (such as pineapple and pear) that can be trimmed and added to the freezer, too. When the kids come calling, whip up smoothies with frozen fruit and less costly veggies such as carrot and kale. For an inexpensive, bulky ingredient in smoothies, add a few tablespoons of rolled oats. Try freezing the smoothie mix in popsicle moulds for an ice-cream-on-a-stick experience for littlies.

Fruit becomes affordable when you team it with less costly ingredients, and get the littlies to assemble their own snack (the fun of doing this will also slow down the eating experience to enhance a feeling of fullness, sooner). To offer ‘select-a-snack,’ chop pieces of fruit (such as apple, banana, and orange) into cubes. Pop it onto a serving dish along with some raisins, cubes of carrot, daikon radish, and torn lettuce leaf. Open a packet of bamboo skewers and supervise the grandies as they thread on their chosen ingredients before devouring them!

Snacks don’t have to break the bank – but they do take some planning. Think ahead, and enjoy the experience of providing your grandchildren, of all ages, with filling, healthy, affordable snacks.