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Did you know that kids get about one-third of their daily calories from the snacks they eat after school? Because small children have small stomachs, they might not want to eat much in one sitting. But don’t let that fool you! Kids still want to eat frequently throughout the day.
Top 5 Healthiest Snacks for Kids
This makes snacking an important part of a child’s diet, which means as a parent you need to be conscious of what you’re offspring is consuming. That’s why our pediatric dentist put together a list of our top 5 healthiest snacks for kids.
Mini Pizza – Fact: kids love pizza. Who doesn’t?! You can cook up a healthy, easy-to-make mini pizza for your child to enjoy after school by toasting a whole-wheat English muffin, adding some tomato sauce and low fat mozzarella cheese.
Peanut Butter – Packed with fiber and protein, peanut butter makes for a perfect snack for kids who need a snack at any time of the day. Look for natural peanut butter in order to avoid ones with added sugar and/or trans-fats. Spread it on a piece of whole-wheat toast or use it as a dip with some fresh apples!
Cheese – A great source of vitamin D, calcium, and protein, cheese is a great snack for keeping your child’s energy up all day long. Whether your child likes it in string or cube form, cheese is a great snack to pack for lunch or to serve after school with pretzels, fruit, or meat. Parents.com encourages you to use a cookie cutter to make fun shapes with your cheese!
Popcorn — This may come as a surprise to most parents, but popcorn is actually a very healthy snack for children. It’s full of whole grains and fiber, and when sprinkled with some cinnamon it can be a tasty and healthy snack! Obviously avoid salty or buttery “movie” popcorn and go for the healthy stuff!
Fruit – Quite possibly the king of healthy snacks, fruit is ALWAYS a good choice. Apples, oranges, and bananas are great ways to make sure your child is getting all the nutrients he or she needs. Keep in mind that children should be eating 1.5 cups of fruit a day! Spruce up your fruit by serving it with fruit or maybe in a fruit salad!
