Focus on Your Child’s Health: Healthy Snack Ideas
Providing your child with healthy snacks each day can be
beneficial as three meals often may not provide your child
with enough nutrients nor satisfy their hunger adequately.
Following are some tips to consider when providing snacks
for your child:
- Plan snacks as a part of the day’s food plan.
- When shopping, let children help select fruits,
vegetables and cheeses for snacks. Thy may be more
interested in eating these foods if they have been involved
in selecting them.
- Set aside a “snack spot” in the refrigerator or
cupboard; keep it stocked with nutritious, ready-to-eat
snacks.
- Offer snacks at regular times, such as mid-morning and
mid-afternoon. Avoid allowing your child to nibble
throughout the day.
- Avoid high sugar, fatty and salty snacks, such as candy
and soda.
- Snacks are a good way to introduce new foods. Include a
game or activity to learn about the new food and let the
child help prepare it.
- Plan snacks to help meet the suggested number of
servings per day from the Food Guide Pyramid.
- Avoid offering food as a reward for good behavior.
Following are a few simple healthy snack ideas:
- Raw vegetables, such as celery, carrots, cauliflower,
broccoli, green pepper, green beans, cucumbers, mushrooms,
cherry tomatoes or zucchini may be served with a low fat
dip.
- Fresh fruit in season - cut in slices or halves - such
as apples, oranges, bananas, peaches, grapefruit, grapes,
melons, pears, plums or strawberries. Dried fruit is a
healthy alternative as well.
- Low fat quick breads and muffins, such as pumpkin,
zucchini, banana or bran.
- Non-sugared cereals and snack mixes made with popcorn,
pretzels, peanuts, whole grain crackers, rye chips, raisins.
- Shakes with low fat milk or yogurt and fruit.
- 100% fruit juice or vegetable juice.
- Low fat crackers, graham crackers, or animal crackers.
- Bagels or pita bread with hummus.
- Hard-boiled eggs.
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