Last year, AJC staff writer Helena Oliviero wrote about the challenge of getting schoolchildren to snack in a healthy manner. Here are some excerpts from that story:
With a growing concern over alarmingly high childhood obesity rates, more attention is being given to what our children eat not only at mealtime, but also what goes in the tummy between breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Wendy Palmer, a registered dietitian at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, believes healthy snacking can make a dent in obesity rates. She said healthy snacking ensures a child has the right fuel between meals.
A snack that includes a mix of protein and fiber, fruits and vegetables will provide a longer-lasting source of energy than a quick sugar fix. The key, she said, to healthy snacks is incorporating at least two food groups, preferably three, such as whole grains, fruits and dairy. (Examples include an apple with peanut butter or whole-grain crackers, a low-fat cheese stick and blueberries.)
Experts also say it's important to remember snacks are not designed to be treats, and parents should try to avoid processed foods, such as cereal bars and other packaged foods, that pack a lot of calories but very little nutrition. Palmer said giving children choices can help with getting buy-in for eating nutritious fare. She suggests making a healthy snack drawer or a healthy snack shelf in the refrigerator, and let the children choose from a wide selection. Include fruits and vegetables you know your child likes.
Experts also recommend dips for snacking. In fact, Palmer said, research shows that offering a dip boosts fruit and vegetable consumption. So whether it's natural peanut butter for apple slices or carrots, or a low-fat yogurt dip for veggie slices, including a dip can be the key to more healthy eating. And skip the sugary drinks, even fruit juices, and always go with water to accompany the snacks. If your child doesn't like the taste of plain water, squeeze a little lemon or orange.
Keith Kantor, a Norcross nutritionist and author of the book, “What Matters: Leadership Values That Just Might Save America,” said mandating change won’t change behaviors unless families eat healthier. Children, he said, need to know an apple is better for them than a cupcake — and why.
Some of his favorite snack ideas include hummus and carrots, and a breadless sandwich made with romaine lettuce leaves, chicken, sliced tomato, and mustard. Both are under-200-calorie snacks. Swap out the nacho chips for cucumbers, and dip the veggie into salsa and guacamole, for another tasty, good-for-you snack. But his all-time favorite snack idea for kids is five celery sticks lathered with all-natural peanut butter and topped with raisins — otherwise known as "ants on a log."
“Here’s the goal, ” he said. “To make it cool again to eat healthy.”
TIPS FOR GETTING SCHOOLKIDS TO EAT HEALTHY
- •Have the kids make their own snacks for lunch.
- Use small baggies and large chips so less fit in.
- Have kids bring home what they don't eat so you can discuss if they liked or didn't like something.
- It's OK to give less healthy snacks on certain days, like field trips when everything has to be disposable.
- Use colorful containers; kids love them, and that encourages eating the food inside.
Source: Dr. Stephanie Walsh, medical director of child wellness at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
