Healthy After School Snacks for Kids
Snacking is a favored pastime for many kids. While it may
seem unhealthy due to the overload of sweets, it could be a good thing if they
partake in healthier snacks. Nutritious snacking will not only help your child
curb hunger throughout the day, but it will also provide them with energy and
important nutrients. The following are some tips on how to provide healthy
after school snacks for kids so they can grow to be healthy adults.
- More grains: Whole-grain foods, such as
whole-grain pretzels, tortillas and cereals, provide energy and necessary fiber.
- No junk food at home: If you don't keep them on
hand, then your child won’t overload on cookies, candy bars or other unhealthy
snacks.
- Mix it up: Ranch dressing is a kid-friendly dip
that most children love- you can serve it alongside baby carrots or other raw
veggies. Fresh fruit and fat-free yogurt
is another healthy treat that kids love.
- Get creative: If you make food look cool, then
kids will be more likely to eat it. Make shapes out of the food or play games
to get them interested in new foods.
- Do something different: Breakfast is a beloved
meal, so serve up some scrambled eggs and whole whole-grain toast as a healthy
snack. Since it’s not the norm, they may be more apt to eat it out of
excitement.
- Healthy sweets: Healthy snacks for kids don’t have
to be bland. To satisfy your child's sweet tooth, offer fat-free pudding,
frozen yogurt or frozen fruit bars. Make smoothies with skim milk, fat-free
yogurt, and fresh or frozen fruit.
- Make healthy snacks readily available: Whether
it’s ready-to-eat veggies in the refrigerator or fresh fruit in a bowl on the
counter, it's important to encourage your children to eat healthy on their own.
That way, they will choose to eat the foods themselves rather than be forced.
- Avoid snacking around the house: Kids tend to
mindlessly munch on snacks while watching TV or playing video games, so it's
important to restrict snacking to certain areas, such as the kitchen. If your
child needs a quick snack to go, offer string cheese, cereal bars or other
drip-free items.
It's important to start kids off on the right foot, especially
when it comes to their diet. Because most kids don't understand the importance
of nutrition, it is our responsibility to provide a good example. If they start
the habit of eating well early on, it will be way easier for them to maintain a
healthy lifestyle in the future. Understanding the common terms in the
nutritional glossary could be
a helpful tool in planning the best healthy snacks as well.
