Attack your Snacks!

Does your teen like to snack after school? Are you tired of her choosing extra sugary foods or fatty foods like chips? Well, try these ideas to encourage healthy eating habits! Children do need snacks to keep their bodies going all day. Somedays my teen has lunch period by 11 a.m. so by the time she gets off that school bus at 2:30 she is very hungry! Having healthy choices at home helps her to re-focus for homework and gets her going until dinner. So: try some of these ideas and if you have other ideas or favorite, nutritious snacks, let me know!

• Stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables such as: apples, bananas, cantaloupe, baby carrots, low-fat, low-sugar granola bars, instant oatmeal, oatmeal cookies, and low-fat yogurt.
• Choose healthy versions of favorite foods: buy baked chips rather than fried, whole-wheat pretzels, low-fat popcorn, reduced fat crackers, low-fat cheese, low-fat ice cream or frozen yogurt.
• PLAN! You can keep healthy snacks ready for those after school activities when dinner is even later than usual! Wash seedless grapes, pop them in a baggie and freeze them; Make up your own bags of trail mix by combining whole-wheat cereals, unsalted peanuts, dried fruits, m&m's, raisins. Buy individual-sized snack items such as applesauce cups, pudding cups, dip for cheese and crackers.
  
• Teach your child to create his own healthy snacks by mixing favorite snack foods: melt shredded low-fat cheese on whole wheat bread for 2 min. in a toaster oven or in your broiler. This will give your teen calcium, protein, and grains all at once!
• Keep water bottles on hand for errands and driving to those extracurricular activities.
• Keep seltzer, club soda and sparkling water in the fridge as good choices rather than soda or fruit juice which has added calories and sugar.