Snack Dinner Is Trending With Busy Families – Try These Tips to Make It Healthier

Cooking dinner is the bane of my existence. It's the last thing I (and other busy moms) want to do after a long day of working, taking care of kids, and running a million after-school errands. My life is basically the Bluey episode where Mum gives in to Bluey’s request for cereal for dinner because it’s fast, easy, and she knows her daughter will actually eat it. (RIP to all those uneaten plates of healthy, balanced dinners I’ve lovingly made in the past for my three kids.) That’s why the popular “snack dinner” idea is one I can actually get behind!

If you've never heard of it before, “snack dinner” just might change your life — and ease your stress on those nights you can't handle preparing a full meal.

What Is ‘Snack Dinner’?

Much like “girl dinner,” “snack dinner” is when you compile a bunch of snacks to munch on instead of preparing a full-on dinner. This is especially great for busy moms, picky kids, and hot summer days when you don’t want to turn on the oven.

For example, one TikToker shared her “snackboard dinner,” which consisted of various crackers, sliced cucumbers and carrots, bell peppers, grapes, cheese, and other snackable foods.

Another TikToker shared their “dinner snack plate,” which included various vegetables, hummus, almonds, pretzels, anchovy olives, and more. A different TikToker upgraded her snack plate by baking and seasoning chicken, then cutting it into snack-sized pieces. She also added cottage cheese, boiled eggs, and other foods and dips.

Of course, you can customize it however you want, but the main idea is to serve food that doesn’t take long to prepare yet is still filling and delicious. You can easily adjust the options based on your family's individual preferences.

The Problem With ‘Snack Dinner’

“Snack dinner” is wonderful, and my family and I have enjoyed it many times over the years. The only issue? When “snack dinner” turns into “junk food dinner,” causing you to miss out on the protein, fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious items you usually get from a regular dinner. If you just eat potato chips and candy for dinner, your family won't get the balanced meal they need, and you'll all end up feeling worse as a result.

With a few conscious switches, you can make a healthier “snack dinner” for the whole family. One that's still just as fun to eat, trust me!

Ways to Make Snack Dinner Healthier

Be sure to include snacks that are both healthy and filling in your “snack dinner.” Think: tortilla chips and salsa rather than potato chips, and fruit with pieces of dark chocolate instead of candy.

The Nutrition Source by Harvard listed a bunch of healthy snack options that you can consider incorporating into your meal. These include raw vegetable sticks, nuts, seeds, whole grain crackers, apples, cottage cheese, yogurt, hummus, avocado, chopped fresh fruit, dark chocolate, cubes or slices of cheese, roasted chickpeas, and nut butter.

The key is to turn these basic snacks into a satisfying meal, since nobody will be full after eating only celery and a slice of cheese. The Food Network has previously advised that to make a meal out of your “snack dinner,” you should always include protein, fruits, and vegetables on your plate, and arrange everything in a colorful display to make it appealing, fun, and intentional — and less like you just raided your pantry for scraps to avoid cooking. (Even if that's exactly what happened.)

Creating a balanced “snack dinner” is easier than you might think, especially if you include items you know your kids like. My kids love fruit, so I always include a mix of berries, apple slices, grapes, and other in-season options, like chunks of pineapple or watermelon. Then, I add crunchy veggies I know they’ll eat, such as carrots and celery, plus some I want them to try, like sliced bell peppers and raw broccoli. Crackers and cheese, yogurt, pepperoni, or even dino chicken nuggets can provide enough protein for the meal. You can also add some just-for-fun foods, like popcorn, gummy bears, and chunks of chocolate.

The whole trend is fun, easy, and always ends up being one of my kids’ favorite dinners — and one of the easiest for me to prepare. Consider this your official sign to try “snack dinner” this week. It just might become your family’s new favorite tradition.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Katheryn Moran/Shutterstock.com