| Adventures in Kids Nutrition & Fitness! |
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| School-Age Children With homework, activities, lessons, and sports, school-age children are busier, and probably more independent, than ever. Some school-age kids may still need three meals and two snacks per day � usually one mid-morning and one after school. But depending on their lunch time at school, and as kids get older, the morning snack could be unnecessary. Talk with your child to find out. Unless you have an especially early dinner time, most kids still need an after-school snack. They can help kids stay focused and alert for homework and other after-school commitments. If your child has an activity after school, it�s best to pack a healthy snack. A child who comes straight home after school might start fixing his or her own snacks (with permission first, of course). Leave things in the fridge that can be tossed together quickly � veggie sticks and dips, yogurt and berries. If you�re serving fruit or a salad with dinner, consider letting your child eat that early to take the edge off. School-age children are capable of understanding why it�s important to eat healthy, but more than ever they look to the people they love as role models. Make healthy snacking a family affair and your child will take it to heart. Here are some snacks that school-age children might enjoy: * low-sugar, whole-grain breakfast cereal with low-fat milk * low-fat string cheese * fruit smoothies made with low-fat milk or yogurt * nuts and raisins * whole-wheat pita slices, cut up veggies, and hummus * whole-grain pretzels * fruit slices dipped in low-fat flavored yogurt Teens Teens might still need a snack or two during the day, but what they eat may seem out of your control. Your teen might have sports, a job, an ever-expanding social calendar, money to spend, and car keys. With this much independence, you can�t police what your child eats, but you can encourage healthy snacking by keeping nutritious foods at home for your teen to take on the go. Healthy snacks for teens include: * veggie sticks with low-fat ranch dip or hummus * low-fat granola or cereal bars * fresh or dried fruit * trail mix * mini bran muffins * air-popped popcorn * hard-boiled eggs Snacking well can be a challenge, especially once your child is old enough to make independent food choices. But if you�ve set the stage right from the start � offering mostly nutritious choices at home and encouraging good alternatives when away � your child is more likely to reach for something healthy when a hunger pang strikes. From: http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/food/general/snacking.html |
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| Healthy Snack Ideas for Kids! |
| Helpful Hints |
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