Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Make Snacks Healthy?

Snacking has become very popular among both adults and children. In fact, some studies have reported that over 95% of the women and children in this country have at least one snack a day. There is nothing wrong with snacking, as long as it is done properly. Snacks that contain high amounts of fat, sugar and sodium should be avoided because they can negatively affect health. There are plenty of options for healthy snacks and many of these are very easy to make. Here are some snacking tips:

• Plan snacks as being part of your daily food intake.
• While shopping, allow children to pick out the fruits and vegetables they want for a snack. If they help pick out the food, they will be
  more likely to eat them.
• Have a designated "snack spot" and keep it stocked with healthy
  ready-to-eat snacks.
• Offer snacks at regular times to avoid snacking constantly
  throughout the day.
• Plan snacks to make up for missed servings of fruits, vegetables or dairy so that the daily requirement is fulfilled.

There are a variety of ways in which snacking can be both simple and healthy. Here are a few ideas:

• Raw vegetables that are easy to eat and carry such as: celery, baby carrots, broccoli or cucumbers. They can even be served with low fat dip.
• Fresh fruit can be sliced or halved for convenience such as: apples, oranges, peaches, grapes, melons, pears, plums or strawberries.
• on-sugared cereals or snack mixes made with popcorn and whole grain cereal.
• Low fat yogurt
• Cheese sticks
• Granola bars
• Whole wheat crackers

Source:

• University of Illinois Extension