The Advantages of Healthy Snacks

October 8, 2007

Children who eat balanced snacks pay attention longer in class, make fewer mistakes on tests and generally have fewer behavioral problems.

As parents, we know the challenge of coming up with healthy snacks that your child will actually eat. To generate ideas for snacks tailored to your child’s preferences, create two lists with your child. For an energy-boosting snack, combine small amounts of protein with carbohydrates.

One list should contain their favorite carbohydrate-rich foods and the second list their favorite protein-rich foods. Then create an anytime healthy snack by selecting one serving from each list.

 
Carbohydrate Foods
Vegetables, cut into sticks, slices
Fruit
Dried fruit
Popcorn
Dry whole grain cereal
Graham crackers
Lowfat whole grain crackers or pretzels
Whole grain bagel, bread, tortilla, low-fat tortilla chips or baked chips

Protein-Rich Foods
String cheese
Low-fat yogurt
Low-fat cottage cheese
Low-fat milk
Low-fat cream cheese
Peanut butter (and other nut butters)
Nuts and seeds
Hard-boiled egg
Sliced turkey or other low-fat meat
Hummus
 

So give your child the added advantage of a snack. Remember, healthy snacks are important for good nutrition and key to helping your child perform well throughout their school day.

Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team and ADA National Spokesperson Jeannie Gazzaniga-Moloo, PhD, RD