Easy Tea Time Snack Ideas for Busy Moms

by Dr. Shanthi Thomas

Juggling work and family perfectly is a super power that all working mothers would like to have.  The good news is that it is possible to be a sort of super mom, if you know certain life hacks that make life easier. Topmost among these life hacks is the skill of producing mouth-watering snacks that kids would love. Here are top easy teatime snack ideas for busy moms.

1. Easy Bread Pizza

Who said pizza has to be bought? You can make your very own pizza at home within half an hour.

Ingredients

• 6 slices bread
• 2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 c. pizza sauce
• 1 tbsp. Parsley
• 1/2 c. mini pepperonis

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 350°.
• Spread the pizza sauce on each slice of bread.
• Top with mozzarella and mini pepperonis.
• Bake until cheese is melted and pepperoni is slightly crispy.
• Now garnish with parsley.

Lo and Behold! Your own bread pizza is ready.

2. Fruit Salad

On a hot tiring evening, nothing refreshes your kids like fruit salad. And it is super healthy! Apart from the fruits mentioned here, you can add any other that you wish.

Ingredients

• 1/4 c. freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/4 c. honey
• Zest of 1 lemon
• Kiwis – 3 (peeled and sliced)
• Orange – 1 (deseeded and wedges cut in half)
• Apples – 2 (peeled and chopped)
• Mango – 1 (peeled and chopped)
• Grapes – 500 g

Directions

• Whisk together orange juice, lemon zest and honey.
• Pour the sauce over the fruit and toss gently to blend
• Chill in the refrigerator for a couple of hours until ready to serve.

3. Cheese Garlic Bread

A must-try recipe that gets you a yummy snack in 10 minutes!

Ingredients

• 1 baguette (any other bread will do, but the texture will be different.
• Butter – 4 tbsp (softened to room temperature)
• salt – ½ tsp (if using unsalted butter)
• Grated mozzarella + cheddar – 2.5 cups
• chilli flakes – 3 tbsp
• garlic – 6 to 8 cloves (minced)

Directions

• Pre-heat your oven to 180C.
• Slice the baguette into about ¾” thick pieces.
• Mix the butter and minced garlic along with salt (if you are using unsalted butter).
• Spread a thick layer of butter on one side of the bread pieces evenly.
• Add the grated cheese on top liberally.
• Garnish with chilli flakes.
• Bake for about 5-6 mins in the pre-heated oven until the edges of the bread slices turn crispy and the cheese melts. (Do not over-bake)

There you go! Hot, cheesy garlic bread is ready in 10 mins!

4. Broccoli Balls

Who said broccoli is difficult to eat? This powerhouse of nutrition can be made into yummy balls following this recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups grated broccoli
• ½ teaspoon garlic
• ½ cup finely chopped onion
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• ¼ teaspoon chipotle pepper
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon chia seeds, soaked in water
• ¼ cup almond meal
• ½ cup breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
• Salt to taste

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 400 F.
• In a shallow pan, sauté the onions.
• Once the onions are translucent, add the grated broccoli and salt to the pan. Cook until the moisture evaporates. Remove the pan from the heat.
• Add breadcrumbs, the spices, and almond meal. Stir everything well.
• Add the soaked chia seeds and combine well.
• Divide the mixture into 10-12 equal-sized balls.
• Place the balls evenly on a lined baking tray and bake for 25 minutes.
• After 15 minutes, turn the baking sheet around and bake for 10 minutes more.

5. Savory Herb Whole Grain Crackers

Looking for a healthier and sugar-free alternative to store-bought crackers? These whole grain crackers will leave you wanting more.

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons mixed herbs like oregano and basil
• 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
• Salt to taste

Directions

• Make stiff dough with the sesame seeds, salt and water.
• Roll out the dough thinly, and cut it into strips.
• Bake at 450° F for 10-15 minutes until crisp.

6. Momos

Momos are steamed dumplings that are a favourite in many Asian countries. It is healthy, and very easy to make.

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour
• Salt to taste
• 1 head of broccoli, finely shredded
• 1 cup bean sprouts, chopped
• Minced chicken or beef
• ½ teaspoon pepper

Directions

• Make soft dough with the flour, adding water.
• Roll it out thinly into a round shape.
• Add the filling made by mixing broccoli, bean sprouts, chicken/beef, salt, and pepper. Bring the edges together to form a small pouch.
• Place the momos in a steamer and steam for about 20 minutes, until they are cooked.