Snacks help satisfy hunger, provide important nutrition and tide you over until mealtimes. Be an explorer and try out new foods. When choosing snacks, think about which food groups you are eating, and try to pick foods from different food groups to get more of the nutrition to grow, think, learn and play. Talk with your parents about the snacks and other foods you eat.
You can learn more about food groups, the right amount of each food to eat, and the food pyramid at http://www.mypyramid.gov/kids/index.html
While snacking is important, make sure to balance what you eat with being active. There are lots of fun things to do, like walking, biking, swimming, and playing!
- Bored by plain ol' bread? Cut your favorite sandwiches into fun shapes with cookie cutters.
- Graham crackers are tasty on their own, or as the "bread" for a peanut butter sandwich.
- Popcorn isn't just for movie night – have it plain, or add a little bit of cinnamon and sugar.
- Try different breads with your sandwiches – go for whole wheat, multi-grain or rye.
- Want something crunchy? Baked snacks like pretzels and Pepperidge Farm® Cheddar Made with Whole Grain Goldfish® crackers are delicious.
- Dunk it! Take pieces of cut-up fresh fruit and dip them into a small bowl of yogurt.
- Dried fruits are a sweet, high-fiber snack. Try different ones, like raisins, cranberries, dried apricots, or banana chips. Remember - dried fruits have more calories than fresh fruits, so you need to eat less of them, like just a small handful.
- Canned fruits are tasty and nutritious. Choose ones that are packed in juice, like peaches, pineapples, and mixed fruit.
- Add canned or fresh fruit to Jello® gelatin as it is getting solid in your fridge.
- Soup for a snack? Why not? Vegetable soups are a yummy choice. Try Campbell's® Tomato Noodle soup, Campbell's® Tomato soup with Goldfish® Pasta, or Campbell's Vegetarian Vegetable soup - the Alphabet soup.
- V8 vegetable juice hits the spot (and gives you veggies at the same time).
- Vegetable sticks are fun, like carrots, zucchini and peppers — with or without a low-fat dip.
- Roll 'em up: Fill a tortilla spread with low-fat cream cheese with fresh veggies and salsa, and then roll it up.
- Try yogurt topped with dried fruit, granola or nuts.
- String cheese is a real hands-on snack – plus it's loaded with calcium.
- Cheese slices are even more delicious when wrapped around thinly sliced apples.
- Hard boiled eggs are good any time of the day.
- Go for bean dip — like hummus — spread thin on crackers.
- Be nutty! A handful of nuts, like almonds or walnuts, provides lots of nutrition.