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Children's snacks: 10 tips for healthier snacking
When your child gets the munchies, be prepared to offer a quick-and-healthy fix. Start with these 10 tips for healthier children's snacks.
By Mayo Clinic staffSnacking is a major pastime for many kids — and that's not necessarily bad. Snacking can help your child curb hunger throughout the day, as well as provide energy and important nutrients. But the quality of the snacks is key. Consider these 10 tips for healthier children's snacks.
1. Keep junk food out of the house.
Your child won't clamor for cookies or candy bars if you don't keep them on hand. Instead, set a good example by snacking on healthy foods yourself.
2. Go for the grain.
Whole-grain snacks — such as whole-grain pretzels or tortillas and high-fiber, whole-grain cereals — can give your child energy with some staying power.
3. Mix and match.
Serve baby carrots or other raw veggies with fat-free ranch dressing. Dip graham cracker sticks or fresh fruit in fat-free yogurt. Top celery, apples or bananas with peanut butter.
4. Broaden the menu.
Offer out-of-the-usual fare, such as pineapple, cranberries, red or yellow peppers, mangoes, tangelos or roasted soy nuts.
5. Revisit breakfast.
Many breakfast foods — such as low-sugar, whole-grain cereals and whole-grain toast — make great afternoon snacks. Likewise, a small serving of last night's casserole could double as an after-school snack.
Next page(1 of 2)
- Parenting corner Q&A: Nutrition. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.aap.org/publiced/BR_NutritionABC.htm. Accessed March 2, 2009.
- Right from the start: ABC's of good nutrition for young children. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://patiented.aap.org/categoryBrowse.aspx. Accessed March 2, 2009.
- Nutrition fact sheet: 25 healthy snacks for kids. American Dietetic Association. http://www.eatright.org/ada/files/Snacks_for_Kids_English.pdf. Accessed March 2, 2009.
- Nutrition fact sheet: Shop smart - Get the facts on food labels. American Dietetic Association. http://www.eatright.org/ada/files/Shop_Smart.pdf. Accessed March 2, 2009.
- Nutrition fact sheet: What's a mom to do? Healthy eating tips for families. American Dietetic Association. http://www.eatright.org/ada/files/Wendys.pdf. Accessed March 2, 2009.
