•Honey Mustard – Popular on a variety of sandwiches and as a dip or salad dressing, combining plain yogurt with milk, honey and regular or Dijon mustard can create a more family-friendly version.
•Teriyaki Sauce – Perfect for serving with healthier options like lo mein, chicken wraps or fried rice, a homemade version can be created using water, soy sauce, honey, ginger, garlic powder and cornstarch slurry.
Swap Out Syrup
Pancakes are a popular breakfast option at KinderCare centers and in many homes, but even the healthiest whole-grain pancake becomes a plateful of sugar if it’s doused in syrup. Hines recommends these toppings that are sweet and savory without the added sugar:
•Nut butter or seed butter (such as peanut, almond or sun) and banana slices
•Warm fruit compote (mix of warmed berries)
•Applesauce (no-sugar-added variety) and cinnamon
•Nut butter swirled into plain yogurt; mix in 1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract to add a sweet flavor
Snack Sweet
Opting for less added sugar doesn’t mean avoiding sweet snacks altogether. These alternatives can still help satisfy those cravings:
•Applesauce with baked cinnamon pita triangles for dipping
•Toast topped with nut or seed butter, smashed banana and sprinkle of cinnamon
•Frozen fruit smoothies
•Plain yogurt topped with granola, nuts, seeds or fruit
•Apple slices with nut or seed butter
For more ideas to introduce your children to healthy habits from a young age, visit kindercare.com.
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Source Kindercare