Snacked Out
Next to the daily challenge of packing a nutritious lunch for the kids, is the daily challenge of providing them an after-school snack that will fuel them through ballet class, hockey practice or a piano lesson but not fill them up so much that they don’t eat any dinner.
Most children need to eat every three to four hours to replenish energy stores and recharge their bodies, and an after-school snack is a necessary component of a school-age child’s overall nutrition intake. In other words, it’s kind of like their fourth meal of the day, so I like to treat it that way and think of the Food Guide Pyramid to plan after-school snacks, just as we do for meals. Although I do include the occasional cookies or other sweet snacks, I also try to:
- Choose whole-grain foods such as bagels, English muffins, breads and cereals to provide energy and fibre
- Include fruits and vegetables for color, variety, crunch, and nutrition
- Include foods with protein, such as milk, yogurt, cheese, peanut butter, tuna, poultry and meat products
Some mini-meals my gang enjoys after school include:
- Mini-pizzas made on English muffins, topped with low-fat, grated cheese and chopped green pepper or other veggies
- Breakfast cereal served with fruit and low-fat milk
- Rice cakes or whole wheat bread topped with peanut butter and sliced bananas or strawberries
- Raw veggies served with hummus
What are your kids’ favourite after-school snacks? Savvy moms want to know!
