Snacking between meals doesn’t’ have to be a bad thing. In fact, kids often don’t benefit from enough vitamins and minerals from breakfast, lunch and dinner alone so healthy snacks are important. Make snacks count by offering your child healthy foods that are packed with vitamins and minerals.
Choosing healthier snacks can:
- Provide some of the essential nutrients your child needs every day.
- Provide nutrients for have been missed at other meals.
- Help young children who don’t have big appetites get enough energy and essential nutrients.
- Provide energy to get them through a busy day at school and through any after school activities
- Helps curb overeating at meal times
- Makes it more likely that your child will get their 5-A-Day portions of fruit & vegetables
Snacks can be handy when you need extra energy to see you through to the next meal or when exercising.
Remember, many confectionary snacks contain more calories than you might expect. It’s a great idea to prepare healthy snacks in advance and carry them with you in your kit bag/school bag.
In their school bag, or while at home, provide:
• Fresh fruit/dried fruit
• Oat crackers and slices of red pepper and Edam cheese
• Smoothies
• Plain popcorn
• Wholemeal scone with peanut butter
• Breakfast cereal with low fat milk and chopped banana
• Cereal bars
• Wholegrain toast with baked beans
• Unsalted nuts and seeds
Read more: 20 healthy snack suggestions
