By Lisa Millar, Registered Holistic Nutritionist
Kids like to snack- a lot.
Even though we provide them with their three basic meals each day, they still want to snack. And, depending on their age (hello moms of teenagers) their “snacks” could very well end up being the equivalent of a full meal.
However, regardless of how old your child is, snacks are an important part of their growth and development. Eating healthy snacks between meals enables your child to maintain balanced energy and balanced blood sugar levels throughout the day. Schools use recess to encourage students to have a snack, but what your kids bring in their lunch bags, depends largely on you and what you have at home.
Keep these tips in mind when feeding your child(ren) the snacks they need without feeling like you are always in the kitchen-
- Keep the pantry stocked with wholesome ingredients to make no-bake snacks quickly and easily.
- Allow them to choose a healthy snack from the grocery store. Prepared snacks for children often contain way to much sugar. Always read the ingredient label before you buy.
- Remind them to drink water throughout the day. Even though they are reaching for a snack, they might actually just be thirsty.
- Keep fresh fruit within reach so they can help themselves if they are old enough.
- Keep them busy to prevent them from eating when bored.
And when you need some inspiration as to what to feed your growing children here’s a Top 10 List of Healthy Snacks to keep on hand:
- Fruit
- Air popped popcorn
- Cheese and whole grain crackers
- Smoothies
- Homemade baked goods
- Unsweetened yogurt
- Hard- boiled eggs
- Hummus & veggie sticks
- Trail mix
- Homemade popsicles
Hello! My name is Lisa Millar. I am a Registered Holistic Nutritionist with a background in Early Childhood Education and the owner of Lisa Millar Nutrition based in Hamilton, Ontario. My main focus is the health and well-being of busy moms and their families. Being a busy mom of 2 teenagers myself, I know from experience how stressed, overwhelmed and guilty moms can feel trying to manage their daily lives. Family health and wellness is my passion and I am committed to support and empower moms to help them feel their best through whole food nutrition programs and self-care techniques so they can live their best lives with their families.
When I am not cooking in my kitchen, enjoying meals with my family, or watching my kids play soccer, you can find me teaching workshops or connecting one-on-one with clients with enthusiastic freshness.
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