2-Steps to a Healthy Snack

For all snacks — be they for children or adults — you want to try to include at least two food groups to maximize nutritional value and keep energy levels stable. You can accomplish this by choosing one high-quality carbohydrate food along with one high-quality protein food as your child's complete snack.

Here are a few steps to make this easy:

1. First, choose your carbohydrate.
You want to choose foods that are closest in original form or, if packaged, have no added sugars. Examples include a myriad of easily edible fruits and veggies, whole grain crackers and air-popped popcorn.

2. Got it? OK, now choose your protein-rich food item.  
For protein, the same suggestion of minimally processed in the food's most original form applies. Think nuts, nut butters (if your child's school requires nut-free then sunflower seed butter should be allowed), seeds, cheese of all kinds, greek yogurt squeezers and lightly salted soybeans.

Click here for the full article, "Super-packed Snacks That Make The Grade" by Angela Lemond, RDN, CSP, LD

Best Teen Diets recommends healthy well balanced eating that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein and low-fat or fat-free dairy. We offer nutrition information for teens, parents and educators that emphasizes the importance of healthy eating for teens. For more information visit www.bestteendiets.org