Get Ready for the Next Snack Attack
After-school snacks, before-dinner snacks, snacks at home, and snacks on the road. If snack time feels like all the time in your family, you’re not alone! Research suggests snacks make up over 25% of the calories kids eat during an average day. So, how often should kids really be snacking? And what should they be snacking on?
Emily Simo, a Registered Dietitian who works in one of the country’s largest school districts, tackles some of the questions she hears from parents on a recent installment of the “What’s a Parent to Do?” blog.
Do kids need to snack?
Yes! Most kids eat about three meals and up to four snacks a day. “Snacks help kids get the nutrition they need for brain and body development,” says Emily (pictured). Snacks can help kids learn better at school and maintain their energy throughout the day.
What are some great snacks to keep on-hand?
Tasty, nutritious snacks rule! Try trail mix, dried fruit (without added sugars), whole gain pretzels, cheese, lower sugar yogurts, lightly salted corn chips and salsa, hard boiled eggs, and lightly salted or unsalted nuts. From celery with peanut or almond butter to smoothies and fruit kabobs, Emily offers some great ideas, tips, and pairings on the blog.
Your questions, answered!
What makes a healthy snack? What’s the difference between a snack and a treat? Should snacking habits change with age? Are packaged snacks OK in a time crunch? Is a bedtime snack OK? Emily answers all these questions and more on the blog.
Note: Since everyone’s health history and nutritional needs are so different, please make sure that you talk with your doctor and a registered dietitian to get advice about the diet and exercise plan that‘s right for you.