School-age children are exposed to many unhealthy snacks. Candy and cookies are OK once in a while, but for daily snacks at school or afterward, make sure that your child is eating healthy foods. This is not difficult or even expensive.
Dipping and Topping Foods
Provide your child with celery sticks and peanut butter or veggie slices with low-fat ranch dressing. Many different vegetables and fruits are good with a dip or topping. Be sure to look at the fat content as well as the additives to any dip or topping you are purchasing for your children. Fat-free ranch dressing, real cheese dip, and homemade salsa are healthy choices.
Cool Snacks
Pudding, yogurt and Jell-O are healthy snacks that kids enjoy. If it is really hot outside, you can stick a Popsicle stick in the pudding and yogurt container then place them in the freezer to make frozen treats. Many people assume that pudding is fattening, but it is a dairy product and comes in fat-free and even sugar-free options. Jell-O also offers fat-free and sugar-free products.
On-the-Go Snacks
Snacks that kids can carry with them are always a great choice, and there are many healthy options for this as well. Rice cakes, muffins, veggie chips, dehydrated fruits and dry cereal are all great choices for healthy on-the-go snacks. When choosing muffins you can either make your own or look for the healthier varieties. For a healthy snack you don't want to give your child a double chocolate chunk muffin; instead opt for those made with real fruit and whole wheat flour. Even cookies can be a healthy snack if you make them with applesauce instead of sugar and use a nutritional flavor choice such as oatmeal and raisin.
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