Stuff We Love: Healthy Kid Products

By , SparkPeople Blogger
I always try to research products before trying them on my 4 and 2-year-old children. Whether it's healthy foods for their bodies or healthy games for their minds, I'm pretty picky when it comes to what I give my kids. I've made purchases that weren't well-received when I brought them home (especially food items), but through trial-and-error I've found some staples that work well in our home. Here are just a few.

For a healthy body: I would love to say that I make all of my children's food from scratch and they never eat processed foods. But that's not reality. I do try to limit crackers and other snacks like this as much as possible. But there are a few that don't make me cringe reading the ingredient list, and my kids enjoy, too.

Annie's Honey Bunny Grahams ($3.29)

These graham crackers are tasty! My husband and I enjoy them too. I find them in the Natural Foods section of my local supermarket.

Stretch Island Fruit Strips(8 ct for $2.99)

I consider these to be a healthy version of the Fruit Rollups I ate as a kid. They are convenient to pack in your purse or keep in the car for hunger emergencies. I find them in the Natural Foods section of my local supermarket.


Kid Cookbooks (prices vary)

My kids love to help me cook. Why not find a cookbook full of healthy recipes that you can make together? It's a great way to spend time with your kids and develop healthy eating habits as a family.

For a healthier earth: If your school-aged children pack their lunch every day, you know how many plastic baggies and brown bags you can go through in a week. Why not consider a reusable lunch bag and containers? There are lots of different options out there, but here is a line of BPA-free products that I like:

Fit N Fresh Kids Smart Container Value Set ($9.99)

Just remind your kids to bring them home from school every day!

For a healthier mind: My kids are kind of young for most board games or computer games. I'm always looking for an alternative to traditional books (we read tons of them!), and found these games that my kids really enjoy.

Brain Quest ($10.95)

The nice thing is that they are age-appropriate, so my both of my kids can be challenged with their own set. The cards come in decks that are held together at the top, so there's no worry that you're going to have lots of cards spread all over the house.

My Own Leaptop ($24.99)

My son got this for Christmas, and although his attention span isn't the longest, he will play some of the games and can grow into it. My daughter also likes it (although some of the games are too easy for her.) This is a nice alternative to T.V. time if you're looking for ideas.

For financial health: It's never too early to get your kids in the habit of saving money. Any time my kids get money for their birthdays (or just because grandma has some spare change), the first thing they want to do is put it in their piggy banks.


Imaginarium Pig E Bank($17.99)

This bank counts coins as they are deposited and keeps a running total of how much has been saved on an LCD screen. If you don't want to spend quite this much, a traditional piggy bank can still teach your child the value of saving money.

Have you tried any of these products? What are your favorite health-related products for kids?