Healthy Snack Ideas

Healthy Snack Ideas

Eating Healthy

Start Their Day Out Right…

The Importance of Breakfast!

Everyone knows that breakfast starts the day out right—but can breakfast actually help children learn better? Early evidence says YES! Hunger, even the short-term hunger that may be experienced if breakfast is missed, can decrease a child’s attention span and ability to concentrate. Students who eat breakfast perform better academically and are more alert and willing to learn than those who miss breakfast. Eating breakfast also reduces behavioral problems, absenteeism, and visits to the school nurse office. Without this important meal, it is hard for children to eat enough throughout the day to obtain the nutrients they need to grow, learn, play, and stay healthy. Remember, kids learn from what they see-enjoy a healthy breakfast together!

School Snacks…

Make a Healthy Choice!

With all of the activities that are taking place with your child at school, it is no doubt their appetites will increase. Sending snacks to school with your child is a great idea but make sure they have nutritional value. Here are some healthy snack ideas:

• Cut up fresh fruit (apples, oranges, grapes etc.)

• Trail Mix

• Fruit cups

• Yogurt with a spoon or Gogurt

• Dried fruit

• Cheese (string, cubed, etc.)

• Carrot sticks

• Small cereal boxes

• Celery sticks with peanut butter

• Low fat granola bars

Be sure to package snacks properly to avoid any undue messes. If food should stay cold, please use an insulated cooler and ice packs. Healthy Snacks fuel successful learning!

How Much Calcium Do Kids Need Each Day?

Children need three glasses of milk or servings of dairy each day until they are 9 years old. Between ages 9 and 18, kids need four servings of dairy every day. The fact is, most children and adolescents are not getting the amount of calcium they need to build peek bone mass and prevent osteoporosis. Be creative in getting the number of servings needed each day. Try yogurt over a cup of granola or melted cheese over veggies. The options are endless, but critical for building the strong healthy bones needed for a lifetime.