Tips for Healthy Snacking For Your Child

Back to school means backpacks and school lunches.  For some it means packing a lunch or taking snacks for recess.  Why do kids need snacks?  Children need calories and nutrients from food each day to grow and develop.  Children have smaller stomachs than adults, so they can’t eat a lot of food at one time.  If they become hungry, they may get cranky and find it hard to concentrate.  Snacks help them manage their hunger.  By offering healthy snacks you can help them get a variety of foods from each of MyPyramid food groups throughout the day.  When planning snacks, some tips to remember are:

• Keep healthy foods handy.
• Pack snacks in individual container
• Use a variety of kid-friendly colors and shapes
• Have your kids help in the kitchen
• Time it right, not before mealtime.
• Watch for any signs of choking
• Know how much your kid should eat to maintain a healthy weight.

Savory Ranch Chex Mix
Prep time: 10 minutes
Start to finish: 10 minutes
9 cups Corn, Rice, or Wheat Chex (or combo)
2 cups small pretzel twists
2 cups bite-size cheese crackers
3 tablespoons margarine, melted
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 envelope ranch salad dressing and seasoning mix (milk recipe)

• In large sealable plastic container, mix cereal, pretzels ,and crackers
• Add remaining ingredients and seal container.
• Shake until well mixed.
• Package in individual snack-size zip locks (1/2 cup serving size)