Teaching Kids The Value of Healthy Snacking

FamilyKids & Teens

  • Author Christine Steendahl
  • Published May 12, 2007
  • Word count 520

Now days, more than ever kids should be eating healthier. For millions of kids in America consuming junk food and increased inactivity has led to obesity and many kids being above ideal weight. Not only is it important to teach your child which snacks they should eat, but educating them during the early, formidable years may help them sidestep obesity and becoming overweight in the future when they are adults. Here are some tips on yummy healthful snacks for little ones.

One way for your kids to consume healthy snacks is to get them started on naturally sweet foods. Since almost all kids crave sweets for snacks, naturally sweet foods such as fruits are perfect. Let them enjoy a banana, orange, apple, cherries, strawberries and other berries whenever they have a sweet tooth. You can mix in yogurt or even make a fruit smoothie for them with some milk and a drop of chocolate or other natural flavors.

Another great way for your little ones to enjoy healthy snacks is to serve them fresh nuts. Kids love peanuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds, almonds, etc. One of the things to learn about kids is that if they try enough types of natural and healthy snacks, they will find one that they like. The problem is that many times parents give up trying to find the snacks that their kids like and settle for popular junk foods instead.

When choosing a healthy snack, what you want to stay away from are products loaded with sugars, unnecessary preservatives and empty calories. While most kids will fight you tooth and nail if you make them eat wheat germ and tofu, most kids will be more than happy to eat snacks if they have a sweet taste and are presented in the right way.

Other healthy snacks that many children like are dry cereals. For example, there are numerous breakfast cereals that are made from corn, wheat, bran and include nuts and honey. These cereals when consumed at breakfast usually include milk; however, you can simply serve them without milk to your children. One of the standard dry cereals which are healthy and nutritious for your child at almost any age is Cheerios. Cheerios are lightly sweetened and yummy either moistened with milk or dry. If your child is looking for a tasty treat for lunch or to take along for camp or little league, dry cereal is not only nutritious, but tasty.

For those children that are terribly finicky and only want junk food, one strategy to use in order to get your child to eat nutritious snacks is to buy prepared natural snacks. Today, there are tons of prepackaged snacks that might resemble junk food, but are actually healthy and nutritious for your child. They include certain fruit roll ups, string cheese and granola bars. Many of these snacks look like junk food, but are actually made from natural ingredients and include relatively little sugar and empty calories. If you are searching for a great way for your child to stay healthy, check out the previously mentioned tips on healthy snacks for little ones.

For more Healthy Recipes For Kids visit www.dinewithoutwhine.com/article-healthy-recipes-for-kids.htm

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