Nutrition

Rich in Vitamin C to help the immune system and manganese which helps the body form connective tissue and support blood clotting.

Shopping Guide

Take a close look at the shells which should be shiny, firm and bright green.

Storage

Keep them in an airtight bag or container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. You can even freeze them – just blanch in boiling water for 2-3 mins then plunge into ice cold water to stop the cooking before laying out on a tray to freeze for a few hours and then storing in freezer-safe bags or containers for up to 6 months.

Preparation

Pop them in, raw to a lunchbox or serve with a favourite dip. Raw snap peas are also great in salads or stirred into pasta. You can cook them, just do so quickly and lightly, with a quick fry, sauté, steam or microwave. For super flavoursome fresh or frozen sugar snaps, try stir-frying in a little oil with grated garlic, ginger and a splash of soy sauce, or minced garlic and batter with a squeeze of lemon.

Kids in the Kitchen

For a younger child, why not get them to wash the sugar snap peas and make a dip to eat them with at snacktime? Try a simple hummus by blending a rinsed and drained tin of chickpeas with a little oil, lemon juice, a pinch of salt and some cumin or paprika or fresh coriander. They can help you put the items in the blender and push the buttons. Or show them how to grate cucumber carefully into some yogurt and crumble in some feta or add a pinch of salt and perhaps a little chopped garlic for a tzatziki dip.

For an older child, it could be a great opportunity to show them how to safely cook over heat. Make a stir-fry and get them to help you. Grab a bag of stir-fry veg and a pack of sugar snap peas, some soy sauce or a stir-fry sauce and some cooked noodles or rice to serve it with. Show them how to cook carefully over a high heat, what gets hotter and what is safe to touch, how to stir over heat, and when to add the veg and sauces. Let them help you serve it up over the rice or noodles, and bring it proudly to the table as “theirs”.

Find more ideas for involving kids in the kitchen here.

Sensory

Sugar snap peas are great for exploring through hearing as a fun, crunchy veg. The best way is to get both sugar snap peas and mangetout and crunch them both (or snap next to your ear if your child isn’t willing to put them in their mouth) and compare the crunchiness. Is one loud and one quiet? One crunchy, one soft? Which one is which? You could also explore the sugar snaps by taking them apart – push slightly on the sides to open them up and see if you can find the little sweet peas inside! What does it look and feel like? What does it remind you of?

Find more sensory ideas, tips and videos here. If you get stuck and need a little help with describing words, we have a selection for you here, too!

Serving

Serving up some sugar snaps and dip for an after-school snack? Why not get your child to serve it up by arranging on a plate or board? See if they can make an edible picture or funny face out of them! See if they want to help you make a dip, too, and make sure to praise their efforts.

Find the best ways of involving your own child and their skills and interests on our Roles for Kids page.

Activities

Why not try making a cut-out and colour pea pod or veg crown?

Or grab some of our free games & puzzles with peas like our Boxing Peas game, Escapeas or a Pea-doku puzzle?

Kids more interested in science? Try Stefan Gates’ videos for veg-focused home experiments here.

Find loads more free veg-themed crafts here and games here.