Is there any greater joy as a parent than seeing your children healthy and happy? Fueling those little bodies with healthy and delicious snacks is an essential part of that!
Watching the kids bound out of school and into the afternoon, full of energy and ready to accomplish great things is a reward unlike any other. But with so many enticing low-quality snacks around, time-pressed parents everywhere need healthy and exciting solutions that can easily fit into their schedules.
If you're a parent looking for healthy snacks for your kids, we’ve got your back. With these healthy snack recipes using high-quality deli meats, you can create snacks that will keep your kids going all day long—without all the sugar and empty calories.
Healthy Snacks for Kids: The Deli Edition
Deli meats aren't just convenient, they're healthy and affordable too! Keeping a few packs around at all times means that healthy snacks can be put together in a flash.
Let's take a look at four of our best healthy snack recipes using deli meats that parents and kids alike will love!
Turkey BLT Waffles
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour (a 50-50 mix of all-purpose and whole wheat works wonderfully here)
- 1 egg, large
- 1 cup buttermilk (or whole milk)
- A dash of salt
- 11/4 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 4 tbsp. butter (unsalted), melted then cooled a bit
- 1 tbsp. granulated sugar
- 6 slices deli turkey
- 6 slices bacon
- 4 lettuce leaves
- 1 tomato
- Egg (optional)
Directions
- Preheat your waffle iron (medium to medium-high heat).
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a bowl.
- In a different bowl, whisk together the butter, vanilla extract, and buttermilk until just combined. Do not over-mix!
- Spray your waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray then scoop in about 1/4 cup of batter for each waffle. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until golden brown and crispy on the outside.
- Once done, slather each waffle with some mayonnaise (if desired) then top with deli turkey, bacon, a lettuce leaf, and a slice of tomato. Top with a poached egg if desired. Serve warm and enjoy!
Easy Ham and Cheese Balls
Source
Ingredients
- 2 cups mashed potatoes (the stiffer the better!)
- 2 cups deli ham, chopped finely
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 cup Swiss cheese, shredded
- 31/2 cups cornflakes, crushed
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp. mustard
- 1/4 cup onion
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
Directions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients except the cornflakes. Mix everything until evenly combined. Let the mixture rest for about 10 minutes.
- Using your hands, form the mixture into 1-inch balls and roll in the crushed cornflakes to coat them evenly.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, then place the coated balls on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for 25-28 minutes or until golden brown. Serve hot!
Old-Fashioned Ham Salad
Source
Ingredients
- 1 lb. deli ham
- cup of mayonnaise (full-fat is traditional, but you can also opt for a light mayo or even Miracle Whip)
- 3 tbsp. pickle relish (we like sweet relish)
- 3 tbsp. roasted pimento peppers, chopped finely
- 1 tbsp. pickle juice
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
- If you have a meat grinder, put the deli ham through it to make a finer texture. If not, roughly chop the pieces of ham until they are finely minced. Some groceries can grind the ham for you, so check if that's an option.
- In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, relish, and pimiento peppers until blended evenly. Add in the chopped deli ham and pickle juice and mix well.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. We like refrigerating the salad for an hour or so before serving—it really helps the flavors to meld together. Serve cold with some steamed veggies or low-carb crackers or bread.
On-the-Go Lunch Meat Roll-Ups and Wraps
Source: Pexels
Ingredients
Directions
- Let's begin with the snack starters. Cut the cheddar cheese into slices of roughly 5 inches each. You can also use a cookie cutter if your snackers enjoy fun shapes.
- Fold each slice of the Buddig Premium Deli Ham into fours.
- Stack the meat and cheese onto the crackers, then serve!
- We'll tackle the snack wraps next. Place the tortilla on a cutting board, spreading mayonnaise over the surface.
- Layer the lettuce and American cheese on top of the tortilla, then top the cheese with Buddig Original Turkey.
- Fold each side of the tortilla and roll it into a wrap. Cut in half and serve!
- Finally, let's make snack roll-ups. Lay out the provolone cheese on a cutting board, topping each slice with 2 slices of Buddig Original Beef. Roll the cheese and meat slices together.
- Make two incisions on each side of the roll, then insert a pretzel stick into each incision. Cut the rolls into half so that each roll has a pretzel keeping the roll together. Snack away!
A Charcuterie Board
Source: Pexels
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb. deli smoked ham, thinly sliced
- 1/2 lb. deli turkey, thinly sliced
- 4 oz. gouda cheese, cubed
- 4 oz. cream cheese, cubed
- 4 oz. sharp cheddar cheese cubes
- Assorted crackers and chips (we like to use wheat thins and corn chips)
- Assorted pickled vegetables (such as peppers, carrots, and cucumber slices)
Directions
- Take a large board and begin arranging your ingredients in a creative, pleasing way. Start with your deli meats, laying them flat on the board and spreading them out to cover most of the surface.
- Next, start adding cubes of cheese and continue to fill up empty areas until the entire board is covered nicely.
- Add in crackers and chips, as well as any other accompaniments such as pickled vegetables. Once you're done arranging your board, serve immediately and enjoy!
From the Buddig Family to Yours
When it comes to healthy snacks for kids, we at Buddig are proud to provide quality deli meats that serve as a reliable backbone in creating healthy and delicious recipes. We've kept our company focused on family and quality for generations, so you can trust that when it comes to healthy snacks for kids, we'll always have your back.
Our roster of classic deli meats is sure to be a hit with your family, giving them the fuel they need to power through their day!
Visit the Buddig website to shop our selection of healthy and delicious lunch meats and other deli classics, where you'll find more recipes to inspire your healthy snacking. And if you're having a hard time finding our products at your local store, our store locator will help you find them in no time—so your kids can start snacking healthy ASAP!