Snacking the Healthy School Child Way
The 2017-2018 school year is underway. What are you going to feed those little preschooler tummies, or those after-school kid bellies? Sometimes it seems as though children’s days revolve around snacks, and there’s an anatomical reason for that. Their stomachs are smaller than adults’ so they need to eat every 3-4 hours to fill their stomac
hs until the next meal. It is important to be mindful about the types of snacks we feed our children; otherwise we risk the potential of exposing them to unnecessary added sugars and unhealthy fats. Snacks are only as good for kids as you make them.
Let’s explore healthy snacking this month.
Why is it so important to feed school-aged children healthfully nourishing snacks?
· Boost brain power
· Provide energy to be active through the day – refuel their bodies
· Deliver enough slow-releasing energy to last until the next meal
· Fill the nutrient voids that may be left from inadequate mealtime eating
What are some nutritious snack ideas?
· Pretzel sticks kebabs with cheese cubes and grapes
· Peanut butter spread on mini whole grain waffles
· Spread mustard on deli turkey and wrap around a crunchy breadstick
· Homemade pita chips dipped in hummus (pureed chickpeas)
· Whole grain cereal mixed with dried fruit
· Bean and cheese whole wheat quesadilla
· Low fat cottage cheese with pineapple chunks
· Deli meat wrapped around string cheese stick
· Sweet potato / Kale / Carrot chips
· Banana half topped with low-fat vanilla yogurt and sprinkled with crispy rice cereal
· Grapes and whole grain cheese crackers
· Pita pocket stuffed with ricotta cheese/apple slices/cinnamon sprinkle