According to a United States Department of Agriculture study, after-school snacks provide about one-third of children's calories. Because children have smaller stomachs, they need the energy and nutrients provided by these mini-meals. However, when high fat, high sugar snack foods are combined with screen time—either TV or computer—instead of active play time, children are likely to gain more weight than they should for optimum health.
What can you do?
- Plan Snack Choices - Offer snacks that fulfill part of the daily recommendations for the food groups outlined by the Food Pyramid.
- Encourage Label Detectives - For snacks that do not fit in the food guide pyramid groups, examine the fat, sodium, and sugar content on the label.
- Create Snack Stations - Children often like to make their own choices, including what snack to eat. Some families keep two sets of snack choices, one in the refrigerator and another in a kitchen cup board. Children are allowed to choose from either.
- Provide Chef- in-training Opportunities - Healthy snacks taste even better when kids create them with their own hands.
To learn more about snack choices and stations, as well as encouraging label detectives and chef in training opportunities, download (pdf) or order a copy of Snacks for Healthy Kids.
For more information, order the "Raising Healthy Kids" series