Let’s face it, when children get hungry they get cranky and find it hard to concentrate. Healthy snacks are a good way to manage their hunger and round out their diets. By offering healthy snacks you can help them eat a variety of foods from each of the My Pyramid food groups daily.
You should offer foods from at least two of the five major food groups at each snack. And remember, fats are needed for good health, but a little goes a long way. So know how many total calories, including those from fats, your kids should eat to maintain a healthy weight. Most young children need a healthy, low-calorie snack or meal every two to three hours. Take a look at some of our healthy snacking tips for ideas!
Make healthy snacks easily accessible.- Put nutritious snacks—such as Big G Kid Cereals—on lower shelves so kids can reach them.
- It’s easier for kids to go for fruit or vegetables when they’re already washed and cut, and stored in a clear container in the fridge.
Pack healthy snacks in individual containers.
- Smaller containers help control portion size and are easier to grab-and-go.
- Fill plastic containers with Big G Kid Cereals, crackers or cheese and keep them handy.
Use a variety of kid-friendly colors and shapes.
- Brightly colored Big G Kid Cereals are always a big hit.
- Cut fruit and vegetables into fun shapes or make faces out of Trix® cereal.
Let your kids help in the kitchen.
- Cooking with your kids beats boredom and gets them interested in healthy eating.
- They’re more likely to eat foods they helped prepare.
- Be sure to supervise young children in the kitchen.
Time it right.
- Plan snacks for your children halfway between mealtimes.
- If they eat too close to meals, it may ruin their appetite.
Watch for choking.
- Young children—up to age four—are at greater risk of choking.
- Provide foods that are easy to chew and swallow.