(NC)-Even if they have eaten well during the day, kids usually come home from school in the "I'm starving" mode. Left to their own devices, they will quickly fill this void with whatever is handy. This in turn can ruin their appetite for the healthy dinner you plan on serving later in the evening.
You can short circuit this cycle by keeping delicious and healthy snacks readily available to them. These snacks can include foods from all four food groups and should include whole grain foods, which most children do not get enough of. More information on this topic is available online at www.areyougettingenough.ca.
Keep a snack tray on the counter for non-perishable snacks and a special part of the fridge for snacks that need to be refrigerated. Here are a few ideas:
Snack Tray on the Counter: Whole grain cereal, whole grain crackers, nuts, seeds, peanut butter, cheese buns, whole wheat rolls, apples, bananas, mandarin oranges.
Refrigerated Snacks: Milk, yoghurt, cheese, sliced meat, grapes, strawberries, baby carrots, pre-washed and chopped celery, cauliflower, cucumber, broccoli, juice.
Children who eat healthy foods are more likely to make better nutrition choices as adults. Help them to learn healthy habits early on in life.
Credit: www.newscanada.com