Kids love coming home to a lip-smacking snack. But, snacks made from healthy ingredients are even better for your kid’s health and well being. Healthy snacks are often regarded as uninteresting because of a simple fact that they are not fried and not smeared with a dollop of cream or butter. But that is a thing of the past! You can now treat your kids to a plethora of healthy snacks that will not only nourish them but they will also relish eating.

Here are some of the simple, yet innovative and lip-smacking healthy snacks recipes that you can cook without using any unhealthy ingredients:

• Cucumber sandwiches : Cucumber sandwiches are a perfect way to treat your kids when they return tired from school. Albeit healthy, this snack is something kids will love gorging on. You will need some cucumbers, a cheese spread, slices of deli meat, slices of boiled potatoes, and tomatoes.

Recipe : Cut a cucumber into moderately thick slices and smear some cheese spread on one side of the bread. Place a slice of tomato, deli meat, and mashed potatoes between the cucumber slices. Sprinkle some black pepper or garlic powder to make it more appetizing.

• Homemade crackers : Often labeled as “kid-food”, crackers are usually made with white flour additives, food dyes, and preservatives. These ingredients might harm the kid’s digestive system and cause other health issues in the long run. Thus, it is better to make homemade crackers. All you need is 1 cup of whole wheat flour, half a teaspoon of salt, 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter, half a cup of shredded cheddar cheese, and 3 tablespoons of water. Here is how you can make homemade crackers.

Recipe : Mix flour and salt to the processor and pulse. Add butter and pulse until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Finally, add shredded cheese. Then add a tablespoon of water and continue pulsing while you add water till the dough forms into a ball. Flatten the dough and let it chill for 20 to 25 minutes. This will help the butter get cold, making it into a puffier cracker. Roll the dough fairly thin; thinner the dough, crispier the cracker. But make sure it is not paper thin. Cut them into different shapes and bake them for 15 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Homemade crackers last for up to a week if stored in an air-tight container.

• Crunchy roasted chickpeas : Chickpea is considered to be a high protein food and is an ideal healthy snack option for your young ones. It is one of the key nutrients for the children’s physical development. Also called as garbanzo peas, these are a great source of fiber and can be made in a jiffy.

Recipe : Rinse 20 ounces of chickpeas and pat them dry with a towel until you preheat the oven at 375-degree Fahrenheit. Once preheated, arrange these chickpeas and roast them in the oven for half an hour or until you see them turning golden brown. In a separate bowl, mix oregano, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle the mixture and serve when cooled.

• Smoothies : Healthy smoothies are a great way to feed your kids enough nutrients for a healthy physical and mental development.

Recipe : To make a healthy smoothie, all you need is a cup of berries that your kids love, a cup of pomegranate juice, two tablespoons of wheat germ, 4 to 5 almonds, and a pitted and peeled avocado. Blend all these ingredients, and serve it cold.