At the end of a long day, kids usually look for an afterschool snack to hold them until dinner. Chips, cookies and sodas are top favorites. However, snacking contributes to health just as much as meals do. The salt, fat and added sugar in these options can add up over time and set your kids up for unhealthy habits and diseases in the future. This is not to say that they can never have chips, cookies or soda. But snacks can be part of a balanced diet.
For kids and teens who often play outside or participate in afterschool sports, having a nutritious snack is important. Better balance will keep them from feeling sluggish while getting all the energy and nutrients they need to perform at their best.
How do you get your teen to switch to healthier snacks?
First off, remember good. better. best. Start by making small changes like swapping out soda for real fruit juice or substituting half of their chips with carrots. As the good start becomes more normal, switch to better choices. Encourage water with their snack to reduce sugar-sweetened beverages. Serve a lightly salted trail mix instead of chips.
Kids will eat whatever is available in the home for their afternoon snack. To get kids to eat more nutritious snacks, offer more nutritious options. “Snack prepping” is a great way to have snacks ready for them to choose. By having grab and go snacks already prepared, kids and teens will be more likely to eat them.
Getting kids to eat and enjoy balanced snacks may take some time. But establishing healthy habits early on can benefit them greatly in the future.
What are your kids’ favorite healthy snacks?
thanks for sharing