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Healthy Snacks For Children
6 New Rules For Snacking
Confused about which snacks will keep your kids full and focused without a sugar crash? Here's how prep and pack healthy kids' snacks
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6 New Rules For Snacking
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1
Think whole foods
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2
Different ages don't mean different snacks
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3
Teach them early (and teach yourself, too)
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4
Stick to a schedule
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5
Let them go hungry
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6
Don't confuse treats for snacks
6 New Rules For Snacking
Image: Thinkstock
It’s back-to-school time and if you’ve got kids at home, that probably means your pantry is jammed with family packs of snacks that aren't good for you and aren't good for your children—but man are they convenient. With all of the new foods on the market, the snack aisle can be a daunting place for a health-conscious mom who’s trying to feed her kids nutritious foods and avoid unnecessary temptations for herself.
When it comes to snacking, what’s good for the child is good for the parent, says Elizabeth Ward, RD, author of MyPlate for Moms, How to Feed Yourself and Your Family Better. “I don’t make a distinction between what kids are eating for snacks versus what parents should be eating. Snacks should be mini meals, not meal wreckers. Both kids and parents are doing too much snacking these days. Snacks should consist of the same foods you can serve at a healthy meal—but in smaller portions."
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"When you feed your kids regular healthy foods, you don’t need worry about them eating enough at the next meal," says Ward. That means if they're eating half a sandwich and a piece of fruit in the afternoon and they eat less at dinner, you don’t have to worry that they’re not getting the proper nourishment and nutrition. “But when kids are eating chips and drinking soda, those unhealthy foods are replacing lean meats, veggies, and fruit because there’s no more room in the belly,” says Ward.
Here, Ward shares her best tips for maximizing nutrition when feeding your kids back-to-school snacks:
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