How to Eat for a Healthy Lifestyle

Snack Attack!

Snacking can be part of a healthy and balanced diet. The key is picking nutrient-packed snacks to not only satisfy your hunger, but to also provide the energy needed to keep your brain and body going strong! There are a ton of healthy options for snacking, including a variety of veggies and fruits, yummy yogurts and whole-grain cereals. Check out the following list for some quick ideas. Or, if you feel like being creative, take a look at the websites listed below for some great recipe ideas. Remember, you should always ask your Mom or Dad if it’s ok for you to work in the kitchen!

Quick Picks

• Apple slices and a piece of cheese
• Tip: Apples come in a variety of colors and each variety has a different taste; some are sweeter and others are slightly tart. Ask your mom or dad to buy different kinds of apples until you find your favorite kind.
• Yogurt Parfait—Any flavor of yogurt sprinkled with a crunchy cereal like granola.
• Ants On A Log: Take a piece of celery, spread peanut butter on the inside and top with raisins.
• Crackers topped with cheese, peanut butter, or, for something totally new, try a hummus spread (Hummus is a spread made out of chickpeas, a type of bean. It comes in lots of different flavors.)
• Carrots (or your favorite veggie) and low-fat ranch dip or salad dressing of your choice
• Cut up your favorite fruit and make a fruit salad
• Mini Pizza- Spread tomato sauce and cheese on top of an English muffin. Put the muffin in a warm oven until the cheese melts
• Make-Your-Own Trail Mix—Add your favorite cereal, pretzels, raisins, nuts, or anything else that you like to make a crunchy, munchy trail mix specific to your taste buds.
• One cup of popcorn

Feel like something sweet?

• Make your own popsicle—Buy plastic popsicle molds and fill them with your favorite flavor of 100% juice. If you want, add small pieces of your favorite fruit in with the juice. Freeze and you have your own homemade treat!
• Sugar-free gelatin or a small cup of low-fat pudding
• Make a fruit smoothie—Blend together one cup of your favorite fruit, one-half cup of yogurt, and a couple ice cubes
• Try one cup of applesauce with a little cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top
• Take one graham cracker, spread it with peanut butter, and then sprinkle a few mini chocolate chips on top

For some other great snack ideas and recipes check out the following websites:

1. Kids Health-Nemours Foundation
2. Café Zoom
3. Cooking with Kids-Weekly Reader
4. Smart Mouth
5. 5-A-Day