With the rise in childhood obesity, the traditional after-school snack has taken a beating. To ensure your child is satisfying those hunger pangs in a healthful way, follow the three T’s.
Timing: Limit snack time to 10-minutes-to-20 minutes. Plan ahead and have plenty of fruit, nuts and whole-grain crackers within easy reach.
Total: An ideal snack will have a single serving from one or two food groups. Check labels for serving size, and avoid supersizing.
Type: Replace processed, low-nutrient foods with more natural ones. Some suggestions:
-Jazz up the usual fruit offering with berries, oranges, grapes and mangoes. Freeze peeled bananas on a stick, or add fruit to plain yogurt.
-Put peanut butter on apple or banana slices.
-Cut up fresh veggies and serve with low-fat salad dressing or mild or medium spiced salsa.
-Make minipizzas with whole-wheat English muffins, tomato sauce and shredded cheese.
-Trade chips for whole-wheat breadsticks, pita bread or unbuttered popcorn.
—adapted from Newsweek
