How do you feel about giving your child snacks?
What foods do you think make good snacks?
What to offer for snacks:
Think of snacks as little meals. To make snacks nutritious and filling, include protein, starch, and fat.
Here are some examples:
- Bread or crackers with cheese or cheese spread and milk or fruit juice.
- Cereal and whole milk.
- Cookies and whole milk.
- Oreos or animal crackers are fine.
- Oatmeal cookies, Fig Newtons, or graham crackers give more nutrition.
- Fruit or vegetable juice with crackers and cheese toast.
- Fresh or canned fruit, like bananas, melon, or peaches, with whole milk, cheese, or yogurt.
- Milk mixed with fresh bananas, strawberries, or other fruit to make a shake.
When and how to offer snacks:
- Feed your child about every 2 to 3 hours.
- Give sit-down snacks. Don’t let your child eat on the run.
- Time snacks to be between meals and at bedtime.
- Keep snacks away from meals or she won’t be hungry for meals.
- Let your child have her regular snack even if she didn’t eat much at the meal.
What to avoid:
- Canned, bottled, or powdered fruit drinks. They are less nutritious than fruit juice.
- Skim milk. It doesn’t have any fat, and your child will be hungry again soon.
- Food that is hard to chew and swallow, like nuts, raw vegetables, or popcorn.
- Having only fruit, juice, or vegetables for snacks. Those foods aren’t filling, and your child will be hungry again soon.
