Healthy Snacks for Children

School is right around the corner, and soon there will be hungry children wanting a snack upon return home. Chips and pop are not good suggestion for growing bodies. These foods are alright sometimes. Daily, children should snack on foods from the five food groups. Stock your refrigerator and pantry with foods that are easy to grab, and require little or no preparation time for your hungry snacker.

Keep fresh vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and celery cleaned and cut up in the refrigerator. Serve with low fat dip or yogurt. Apples, oranges, and other fruits are quick snacks. Keep unusual fruits like star fruit or kiwi around. Kiwi can be cut in half and eaten with a spoon.

Low fat cheese and crackers are a nice snack. String cheese is fun for all ages. Yogurt with fresh fruit or granola seems like an ice cream sundae! Keep a variety on hand. 1%-flavored milk is a great snack. 100% fruit juice tastes great, but make sure that your child receives no more than 8 ounces per day. On days when you have a little extra time, try a fruit smoothie with low fat milk and your favorite fruit (fresh or canned). To make it even thicker, freeze your fruit before blending it.

Bagels, graham crackers, low fat tortilla chips, and pretzels are all snacks children can help themselves to. The key to successful snacking is to have healthy snacks available all the time. If you keep them around, your children will eat them. Also, be a great role model, and participate in healthy snacking yourself!