School is about to start, bringing your kids long days of learning, playing and giggling with classmates. What does this mean for you? In the long run it means happy, well-adjusted kids. On a day to day basis it means ravenous little people coming home expecting to be fed, immediately. This is why the after-school snack has become such a staple in most households.
Kids burn so much energy during the day with lunch as their only opportunity to eat. Prudent moms will make their way to the grocery store this week with a long list of snack to get for the school weeks ahead. But, what do you put on that list? Not this stuff! Here is a list of common snacks that, tempting as they are, should be regularly avoided. (You can have your kids send me their hate mail.)
Cookies
“If they’re fat-free, the cookies aren’t so great, and you end up eating more. Cookies are something you should enjoy, but not as a regular snack.
Cake
As much as we love it, cake is not a snack. With about 400 calories per slice, cake is more like a mini-meal without nutritional value.
Granola Bars
The chewier they are, the more sugar and fat they have. The healthy ones are crunchy, and not coated in chocolate. If your kids truly love granola bars, make your own. There are good recipes out there and this way you can choose the oil, fruits, grains that go into them.
Cheese and Crackers
This snack sounds healthy, but both cheese and crackers are usually loaded with fat. Try using Kraft 2% and Jarlsberg Light cheese on whole-grain, low-fat crackers for a lighter version of this snack.
Chips or Nachos
True, there are reduced fat chips and chips made with canola oil. But chips are still the type of snack that people tend to overeat. And there is really not much nutritional value.
For healthier alternatives try light microwave popcorn or kettle corn, cut up fruit or smoothies, cut up veggies and dip, yogurt or nuts. This may not be the stuff they are clamoring for you to buy, but if it is prepped and set up on the kitchen counter you can bet they will dive into it when they get home.
