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.
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
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
