How do you keep kids fueled through tonight’s fireworks—and the coming dog days of summer?
According to Nicole Meadow, MPN, RD of
NutritionWise, “most of kids’ energy intake comes from their snacks. So think of them like mini-meals.”
Best Bets: Meadow suggests combining a protein (organic string cheese, rolled-up antibiotic-free turkey slices, hummus, hard-boiled eggs, nuts, etc.) with a fruit, vegetable or grain. The protein keeps kids full and gets them from meal to meal.
Simple Smoothies: To beat the heat, blend milk (soy, rice, etc.) with fresh fruit and ice. Get more bang by adding wheat germ or ground flax seeds.
Fruit Fun: Freeze bite-size pieces of your kids’ favorites (watermelon and grapes work well). Or layer yogurt with fruit in paper cups and freeze for on-the-go parfaits.
Popsicles: No time to make your own? Meadow suggests buying the smaller-size pops (40-50 calories each) made from real juice. Avoid artificial sweeteners.
Note: Suggestions above should be modified based on your child’s age (i.e. choking hazards), allergies, and dietary restrictions.
