The most commonly used words in my house at the moment are ‘I’m hungry’…actually, I hear a lot of ‘No’, ‘I don’t want to’, and ‘Why?’, but for the sake of this post let’s pretend we can’t hear that… Like usual.

My almost 4-year-old son, D Man, is a grazer and as much as I try to stretch him to next meal we just never seem to make it.

By the age of 4 your little people have probably given up naps, and are at pre-school 2-5 days a week and are burning energy like Monster Trucks lit up with Christmas lights.

Walking is not an option, because running is way too cool and chillaxing went out the window with naps. Don’t they ever get tired? I know I do.

 If your preschooler is anything like D Man this age is like a bottomless pit and from what I hear it doesn’t slow down until they move out of home!

In one of our previous articles 5 Great snacks for toddlers we looked at snacks for toddlers, so today let’s have a look at the dervish that is the preschooler and how to keep their bellies happy and their bodies fuelled. Obviously, all snacks are mix and match for any age…. Even grown ups love to snack!

I will say once more that fruit is always a great option, but let’s look at making it fun and delicious to tempt our guys on the go. You can skewer it and dip it in yoghurt or make layered trifles with muffins, yoghurt and frozen berries.

Here are my 5 suggestions for great snacks for pre-schoolers:

Homemade Frozen Yoghurt

Freezing some fruit and tossing it into the food processor with some yoghurt is about the biggest cheat treat ever. It’s delicious, healthy and ready in seconds, and it’s a brilliant way to sneak more fruit into your kids’ diet.

I’ve made a banana, coconut and maple syrup one here, but it’s equally awesome with frozen mango, berries or whatever fruit takes your fancy.

Flavoured Popcorn

I’m old school when it comes to popcorn. When you look at the ingredients list on microwave popcorn there is way more in there than there ought to be.

Good old popcorn done on the stove is cheaper, portion controlled and fat controlled. We use a saucepan with a glass lid and watch it pop, pop, pop!

I make mine yummier by sprinkling some smoky, or sweet paprika, and a little salt and pepper.

You can try lemon pepper (look for no added msg, please), or something different like cinnamon to keep it interesting.

Date Slice

The sweetness of the dates makes this easy slice seem like a treat, but it’s actually very low in added sugar. When you throw everything into your food processor it really only takes minutes to pop together and chuck in the oven.

It’s crumbly and buttery and datey and delicious!

Hummus, Carrot Sticks and Tortilla Strips

Making your own hummus only takes 5 minutes, and is much better on your waistline and your pocket, but if you find it easier to just buy it ensure you’re getting dairy free and take a look at the ingredients.

Tortilla strips can just be bought multigrain or whole meal tortillas, cut into strips and baked for 5-10 minutes in a moderate oven. Cut some carrots into batons and you’re ready to munch.

This is how I make my hummus…. Toss these ingredients into a food processor, add a little water to get the desired consistency (store bought adds oil so this is where you save on fat) and boom!

• 1 tin chickpeas
• 2 tablespoons tahini
• 2 tablespoons natural Greek yoghurt
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 large clove garlic, crushed 
pinch of salt

Banana Berry Pancakes

I initially made these for breakfast but they are fantastic any time of day. You can eat them plain or with a smear of cream cheese and jam. They work well in a lunchbox, or after school and they’re also great on the go.

For more inspiration for feeding your family head over to Keeping Up With The Holsbys and check out all of my other scrumptious ideas.

Alternatively, you can buy my book and have me in your kitchen to help you out all of the time. Head to the Holsby Shop now!

“Toddler picnic” image from Shutterstock