It’s the beginning of the school year and time to take a fresh look at what your family is eating between lunch and dinner. Our lives are so jam packed with events, practices and meetings that every day might mean a different lunch and dinner time, so snacks will vary, too. While some kids may be getting snacks at school, ensuring that you always have a convenient healthy option helps to avoid the pitfalls of rushed snacking with sub-optimal choices.
A few ideas:
Clementines or bananas – easy to transport and packed with nutrients to stave off hunger. Amount = 2 clementines or 1 banana
Dips – hummus, black bean or low-fat yogurt; whatever your kids like means they’ll eat it! Amount = 2 tbsp of dip
Whole wheat tortilla roll-ups – spread one of those dips with some green peppers slices for a hearty snack.
Amount = 1/2 tortilla + 1 tbsp dip + peppers
Low-fat plain Greek yogurt with flax seeds – high in protein, calcium and omega-3s, this nutty and creamy snack will satisfy until dinner is ready.
Amount = 6 oz yogurt + 1 tbsp flax seeds
Unsalted nuts – almonds, walnuts, cashews. (Those with allergies – please ignore!)
Amount = 1 handful
Portion size does play a role, so be mindful of how much is being offered and eaten so that snacks don’t interfere with regular, balanced meals. Snacks don’t need to involve mysterious flavorings or high amounts of salt. Remember to ask your kids what they LIKE to eat and you can modify it to make something healthy in a snack-size portion.
