Safer Child Products

In our house, we are getting ready to go back to school.  It doesn’t matter if your child is in preschool or middle school, they still need snacks, usually packed for school.  We have tried every snack bar imaginable; If one of my kids will eat it, the other wont.  Otherwise, after re-stocking, they decide they’re tired of it.  I don’t want something too sugary and it has to be filling.  Oftentimes I find myself at a loss as to what to pack.  I am afraid to send anything with nuts to school because there are so many kids with food allergies, but that cuts out a huge category.  I was thinking of sending hummus with pretzels or veggies to dip. I could send cheese and crackers, but the cheese will get warm if I can’t keep it with an ice pack. 

Our School is really pushing for a healthier lifestyle, by participating in the G.Y.M.M. program, (encouraging children to be active and log their time everyday), to building a vegetable garden and enjoying the fruits of their labor. Now there have been changes to our lunch program, cutting down on protein (meat or meat alternative) serving size while increasing the serving size of fruits and vegetables. 

At Dr. Allen’s office, I came across a few brochures on healthy snacking, really emphasizing fruits and vegetables.  They are put out by www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org. They liked my idea of hummus with veggies.  Other suggestions were to freeze grapes, melon balls and berries for a quick cool treat.  Baby carrots, bananas and grape tomatoes are small and portable, great for snack time.  Dried fruits can be good too. I like trail mix/ snack mix with dried fruit such as raisins, craisins, pineapple, apricots, mixed with nuts but not to send to school.  In this brochure they suggest making your own snack mix with dried fruit, nuts and whole grain cereal. I keep hearing that you should eat as many colors as you can, as colorful fruits and veggies are “great sources of vitamins and minerals that can help protect your health, such as fiber, potassium, magnesium, vitamin A and Vitamin C.”

By keeping fresh fruit on the counter and keeping fresh veggies sliced and within reach, our children will go for these first and will develop healthy habits early.

For more snack ideas, how to get kids involved and quick, healthy recipes, go to www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org .  You can also check out Today I Ate A Rainbow with a great story and kit for young children. http://www.todayiatearainbow.com/.