(NewsUSA) - Children busy with school and sports need snacks for energy. But the cookies, chips and sodas that children like provide sugar rushes, not nutrition.

To keep children happy before dinner, parents should focus on snacks that combine healthy carbohydrates, like vegetables, fruit and whole grains, with lean proteins.

But can children enjoy healthy treats after clamoring for candy? The following snacks appeal to young sweet tooths without compromising nutrition:

- Banana "Ice Cream." Peel, slice and freeze ripe bananas. When hungry children come home, blend the frozen bananas with a little water or juice until the bananas look like soft-serve.

The sweet, icy concoction will remind children of vanilla ice cream but will contain potassium instead of fat. For additional fun, offer "sundae" toppings like chopped nuts or berries. A little unsweetened cocoa powder, at 12 calories per tablespoon, makes a healthier chocolate "ice cream."

- Smoothies. Smoothies are easy to make at home, but busy parents can buy healthy options. Sun Shower Superfood Smoothies by NBI Juiceworks contain 100 percent juice and no added sugar or preservatives. One flavor, Tropical Passion, blends nutritional superstars -; nectarines, carrots and hawthorn berries -; with vitamins and minerals. The smoothie tastes sweet enough that children won't mind drinking their vegetables.

Parents might also consider freezing smoothies in popsicle trays for a healthier version of the long-standing favorite.

- Fruit and Yogurt Dippers. To avoid added sugars, blend plain, low-fat yogurt with fruit or a natural sweetener, like maple syrup, agave nectar or honey. Offer children sliced bananas, apples, pears and whole strawberries to dip into the yogurt for a protein-rich snack.

- Brown rice pudding. Simmer brown short-grain or brown sticky rice in milk or soymilk for three to four hours on the stove, or until the rice becomes very thick. Add dried fruit and chopped nuts, then chill the pudding in the refrigerator. Add maple syrup if the kids want extra sweetness -; they're still eating fruit, nuts and a whole grain.

For more information about Sun Shower Superfood Smoothies, visit www.NBiJuiceworks.com.