Parents have to constantly juggle responsibilities as they go through the motions of a routine day. Whether it is catching up with work, ascertaining that children stay updated with academics, or dealing with the upkeep of a home, time is a huge constraint. To ensure the day’s rush doesn’t adversely affect your child’s diet, here are some great snack ideas for busy parents.

1. Veggies with a hummus dip
When it comes to low-calorie and tasty snacks, nothing beats well-made hummus. It is considered a superfood, and rightly so. Pre-chop carrots and cucumbers before you refrigerate them. Serve these up with homemade hummus. You can add a twist to regular hummus by adding beetroot (preboiled) as you grind the ingredients. If you don’t have the time to cook, then you can opt for an organic, store-bought version.

2. Applesauce
Always use an unsweetened version of applesauce as a snack. While applesauce is a wonderful snack on its own, you can mix it with other ingredients to give it a different spin. For instance, try mixing the snack with your child’s favorite yogurt flavor. You could also choose to add whole-grain cereal, granola, a small fistful of dry fruits to it. The ingredient is super versatile, which is why it tops the list of great snack ideas for busy parents .

3. Fruit salad
Unfortunately, not many people consider fruits a good option for snacks. But, instead of allowing your children to have fried finger foods, opt for nicely cut-up fruits. You can pre-pack diced fruit into snack-size portions and refrigerate the same. Pop these out when you are hard-pressed for time.

4. Yogurt
Yogurt is a great option when you are making a list of things you need to stock up on. Make sure you pick up a couple of different flavors while shopping for groceries. It is a great snack for both adults (low-fat/fat-free versions) and children alike. Add nuts or granola to your child’s cup of yogurt to make it more wholesome.

5. Peanut butter
As a busy parent, make sure you include one of these quick snacks in the week’s diet chart. Slice up some crisp and crunchy apples and add a side of peanut butter (crunchy or smooth). It is truly a match made in heaven and you won’t disagree when you taste it yourself!

6. Soy crisps
Replace the regular chips, wafers, and tortilla chips in the pantry with soy crisps. You will find that these are low in fat and contribute a certain portion of soy protein. You can allow your children to snack guilt-free on these tasty munchies.

The key to being successful with these great snack ideas for busy parents is planning. Make sure you have your menu for the week planned and sorted. This small step will go a long way in taking off the stress that comes with snack time.