Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City
516-222-5100
Keep
your child healthy this summer with fun healthy snacks. The Center for Science
in the Public Interest recommends fruits, vegetables, healthy grains and
low-fat dairy foods that will not only taste good but will be fun to create and
eat.
Fruits
are essential to a child’s diet. Canned, frozen and dried fruits are
inexpensive and easy to prepare. To add more fun to the sweetness of the fruit
kids can make their own fruit salad, fruit popsicles or smoothies.
Vegetables
are not that easy to serve to children but adding light dips or salad dressings
can make snack time more enjoyable. Ants on a log, (peanut butter with raisins
on a stick of celery) are a creative idea for a snack as well as making
homemade hummus.
Whole
grains provide fiber, vitamins and minerals. Your child’s homemade hummus can
be served with whole-wheat English muffins, tortillas or pita chips. Granola
and cereal bars are low in sugar and fats.
Of
course kids need calcium, so low-fat yogurts are beneficial to their growing
bones. Low-fat cheese are can be served with vegetables or crackers to add
calcium to your child’s diet as well.
To wash
all these healthy snacks down serve water, low-fat or fat-free milk, soy drinks
or 100% fruit juice.
Helpful
tips to serve snacks include using colorful plates, napkins, cups or straws.
