Chop up a few veggies fresh - they taste so much better than the bought ones and it takes a minute or two, nothing more!

You know how it is... the energy slump at 4pm in the afternoon or the rush through the door after school straight to the biscuit tin.

But snacks such as hummus and crudities can easily be bought pre-prepared from the supermarket too, although I’d always recommend chopping vegetables fresh - try the following recipes.

Hummus

Ingredients

400g chickpeas
3-5 dessert spoons fresh lemon juice (depending on taste)
2 tablespoons Tahini
2 cloves garlic, crushed
Small handful of parsley
2 tablespoons olive oil

Method

Drain chickpeasPut the chick peas and all the remaining ingredients in blender or food processor.Blend until thoroughly mixed and smooth. (Please note Tahini paste is made from sesame seeds)Dip with whatever vegetables your kids - and you - like but remember to experiment with something new every now and then!

Vegetable Crudites and Worcester Sauce

Ingredients

1/2 carrot, medium
8 cherry tomatoes
1 stick celery
1/2 cucumber, medium
4 tbsp Worcester sauce - anchovy free

Method

Slice all the vegetables into short sticks of the same length.Serve onto a plate with the Worcester Sauce as a dip.

Sweet Potato Bites & Jerk Dip

Serves: 1

Ingredients

35 ml yoghurt - low fat natural
1/2 sweet potato, medium
2 sprigs coriander, fresh
1/2 tsp jerk spice
1/2 Juice of a lime

Method

Preheat the oven to 200C/gas mark 6.Chop the sweet potato into small bite sized wedges, place on a baking tray and bake for 20 minutes.Add the remaining ingredients to a food processor or blender and whizz until smooth.Pour mixture into a pot and serve as a dip alongside the sweet potatoes.

Soy Roasted Nuts

Ingredients:
60 g cashews
60 g peanuts
60 g pine nuts
3 tbsp Tamari soy sauce

Method:
Preheat the oven to 180C/gas mark 4.Place all the nuts on a roasting tray and roast for 10-15 minutes, stiring half way through. Take out the nuts when they are starting to brown and pour on the soy sauce straight away, mixing it into all the nuts.Allow to cool and store in an airtight container.

Make this recipe in bulk and store as a tasty snack for the whole week

Mixed Fruit Pot

Ingredients

100g blueberries
1 kiwifruit
1/2 melon, honeydew
100g strawberries

Method

Place all prepared fruit in a bowl and mix, spoon into a sealable container and open when ready to be consumed.