Easy and fun sensory snacks for everyone
3 minutes read | Written by Tink Things
In our journey as parents and caregivers, finding creative and effective ways to support our children’s development is always on our radar. Sensory snacks offer a unique opportunity to do just that. Not just a treat for the taste buds, these snacks can awaken the senses, providing both kids and adults with proprioceptive and oral sensory input.
From the zing of a sour lemon to the crunch of a fresh carrot, whether it’s to boost energy, improve focus, or calm down, incorporating sensory snacks into our daily routines can be a game-changer for everyone's well-being.
By providing a sensory diet we may, over time, restructure and retrain a child’s brain and ours to process sensory information. This will promote self-regulation of activity, focus, mood, or behaviour, and the ability to process the sensory information to participate more fully in regular home, social, and school routines.
Sensory snacks can be a fun and engaging way to enhance concentration, focus, and overall well-being.
Photo by Hannah Tasker
Alerting foods
Alerting foods can awaken one’s senses while providing lots of proprioceptive and oral sensory input. So, when our child seems sluggish or off, these snacks are a perfect way to get them back on track!
Spicy or Sour foods: Pickles, Greek yoghurt, lemon or lime slices, lemonade, kiwis, grapefruit, sour candies, cranberries, olives.
Crunchy foods: Raw vegetables (like carrots, cucumbers, peppers), pretzels, banana or kale chips, crackers, nuts, popcorn, roasted chickpeas, roasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds, apples, dry cereal.
Chewy foods: Dried fruit like dates, bagels, granola bars, cheese, celery, fruit gummies.
Cold foods: Popsicles or ice pops, smoothies, frozen yoghurt (bites), ice cream, milk, frozen peas, frozen corn, or frozen berries.
Tip: Mix sweet, sour, and spicy snacks for a more intriguing snack bowl!
Photo by Kelly Sikkema
Calming foods
These calming snacks are perfect when you or your little ones are bursting with energy!
Sweet foods: Bananas, strawberries, melon, watermelon, peaches, pears, plums, berries, grapes.
Smooth and Creamy foods: Yoghurt, hummus, hard-boiled eggs, cottage cheese, avocados, oatmeal, peanut butter, guacamole, smoothies, pudding.
Warm foods: Soup, tea, hot chocolate, oatmeal.
Tip: Foods that require resistive chewing and drinks that require resistive sucking can provide calming oral sensory input.
Photo by Annie Spratt
Calming snacks recipes
Fruit & Nut Butter Medley
Ingredients:
Sliced organic apples and bananas
2 tablespoons of almond butter or sunflower seed butter (for a nut-free vegan option)
A sprinkle of cinnamon
Instructions:
Slice the apples and bananas
Spread almond butter or sunflower seed butter over the slices
Sprinkle with cinnamon for added flavour and calming properties
Serve immediately or chill for a refreshing snack
Avocado & Seed Dip
Ingredients:
1 ripe avocado, mashed
1 tablespoon of pumpkin seeds
1 tablespoon of sunflower seeds
A pinch of sea salt
Juice of half a lime
Instructions:
In a bowl mash the avocado
Stir in the pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds
Add sea salt and lime juice to taste
Serve with cucumber slices or homemade gluten-free crisps
Alerting snacks recipes
Chili Lime Almonds
Ingredients:
1 cup almonds (optionally soaked overnight and dried)
1 tablespoon lime zest
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon chilli powder
A pinch of sea salt
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C)
Mix in a bowl the almonds with lime zest, lime juice, chilli powder, and sea salt
Spread the almonds on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes, until toasted
Let cool before serving
Spicy Pumpkin Seed Mix
Ingredients:
1 cup pumpkin seeds (optionally soaked overnight and dried)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
A pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
Sea salt to taste
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C)
Toss in a bowl the pumpkin seeds with olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and sea salt
Spread the seeds on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes, until crispy
Let cool before serving
Photo by Nathan Hanna
As we tailor these sensory-rich foods to our kids’ individual needs, we nurture a more engaged, focused, and balanced state of being, fostering a supportive environment for growth and well-being.
Sensory snacks open a world of sensory exploration and learning for both children and adults. Integrating these snacks and recipes into our daily routines can enhance not just dietary variety but also enrich our sensory experiences, contributing positively to sensory development and self-regulation.
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Tink Things is an independent future-oriented startup rethinking the principles of children’s design. With the belief that kids' surroundings should serve as food for their brains, our first award-winning line of EU made & certified sensory furniture is paving the way for a more inclusive and holistic approach to designing for children. We are on a mission to make the emotional intelligence design methodology a mainstream.
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