Useful Snacks For Children

What healthy snacks are best for children? In this article we will tell you everything you need to know.

Snacks are considered one of the five meals we need to eat in one day. For the little ones, they provide the extra energy they need to play, play sports and do homework.

A good snack should provide enough energy for them to stick to the next meal. In other words, the children should have snacks between lunch and dinner so that they do not run out of energy.

There are countless snacks to choose from, but which ones are best for your child?

At present, childhood obesity is one of the biggest problems in Europe. That is why, among other things, the EU is taking measures to provide access to healthier products, with the aim of preventing poor diets that can lead to weight gain and ultimately obesity.

It is important to follow recommendations on which foods to avoid and which ones contribute to proper nutrition and eating habits. So let’s take a look at some useless and wholesome snacks for kids.

Snacks you should avoid

There are snacks that may seem appealing, but do not fit into the daily diet. The market is filled with products that are filled with sugar and saturated fats that are not healthy.

These are designed to save you the time it takes to plan and prepare healthy snacks for your child. They offer you a pre-packaged, pre-cooked snack that will probably make your life easier.

Let’s take a look at the ingredients in these products, so you know why you should avoid certain snacks.

• Dairy products with added sugar. These products, which include sweetened yogurt and milk drinks, have large amounts of refined sugar, which is harmful to children. Always read the table of contents very carefully on these products before you buy them.
• Soft drinks. These contain carbonated water, dyes and sugar, so they should not be included in any healthy snacks.

• Fruit juices. Many fruit juices contain added sugar or sweeteners, and the little juice they actually contain is from concentrate. Therefore, try to avoid them. Even those made from 100% freshly squeezed juice should be consumed in moderation.
• Pastries and cakes. Homemade pastries are much better than those made industrially. Although large companies in recent years have tried to improve the bad reputation of their products by cutting back on additives and saturated fats, homemade alternatives are almost always better.

Useful snacks

Let’s take a look at some foods that make it easier to choose healthy snacks for your children. They are not as complicated or expensive as you might think, and they help your children develop healthy eating habits.

We focus on healthy snacks that are both fun and varied and that will make the snack something that your children can look forward to. Remember that even though we are talking about nutrition for children in particular, these principles apply to all ages.

Snack:

• Water. Lots of water. It is the perfect drink to serve with any meal. It is the healthiest option while offering the most benefits.
• Fruit. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends eating at least five servings of fruit a day. The presentation of the fruit is the key to making it appealing to young people. Fruit salads are a good solution. You can mix sweeter fruits like melon with less sweet fruits like apples. You can also make a smoothie by freezing the fruit and then putting it in a blender with some yogurt. Creativity is your best friend.
  
  

• Nuts. We recommend that you put almonds or walnuts in yogurt or on a fruit salad. However, nuts are not good for children under the age of four, as they pose a choking hazard.
• Sandwiches. The most traditional of all snacks. Try using homemade bread, or bread from a good bakery. Choose wholemeal bread and keep an eye on the sugar content. Make sandwiches with fresh ingredients like turkey and cream cheese. The size of the sandwich should be appropriate for the age of the child.
• Yoghurt. Choose the best options from your supermarket’s dairy counter, namely those that do not already contain added sugar. Instead of sugar, sweeten the yogurt with honey or fruit.
• Homemade pastries. Try baking your own biscuits. Having control over all the ingredients lets you know that they will be as healthy as possible.

Summary

Finally, your child’s nutritional intake does not have to be based on strict rules. Everything is allowed, as long as it is in the right proportions. On special occasions, you can enjoy less healthy options such as pastries and soft drinks. It is good to enjoy some sweets now and then.