Skip to main content

Low Sugar and All Around Healthy Snack Suggestions


I can’t tell you how many times I have given into my cravings for sweets or foods containing a lot of sugar. It is difficult to stick to a healthy eating habit and it is okay to give into your cravings sometimes. However, most kids LOVE sugar, and we all know how sugar can cause children to be a bit more active. Here are some great snacks with low sugar or no sugar added:

1. Fruits
Fruits are a great and easy snack to grab out of the fridge or out of a bowl on your counter. They are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. They are also an important source for nutrients, including potassium, fiber, vitamin C and folate (folic acid). You can include fruits and find fruit based snacks
-          Greek yogurt topped with blueberries, raspberries, strawberry (and so on)
-          Unsweetened applesauce
-          Smoothies: a great example of a low sugar smoothie is: Peach slices and a ripe banana with plain yogurt and your choice of milk (preferably unsweetened almond milk)


2. Vegetables
Of course vegetables come after fruits. Vegetables are important sources of many nutrients, including potassium, dietary fiber, folate (folic acid), vitamin A, and vitamin C.  Some snacks containing vegetables include:
-          Cucumber slices, carrots, bell peppers dipped in ranch dressing, guacamole or hummus
-          Homemade salsa



3.  Protein
Last but not least is protein. Protein functions as building blocks for bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood. They are also building blocks for enzymes, hormones, and vitamins.  When it comes to children, protein is vital for a child’s growth and development. Make sure they are meeting suggested requirements with these healthy options:

-          Hard boiled eggs
-          Hummus (great for pairing with vegetables as stated above)
-          Unflavored nuts
-          Natural peanut butter





Sources:
https://www.healthyeating.org/healthy-eating/all-star-foods/fruits
https://food.unl.edu/NEP/NEP%20Documents/Vegetable%20group.pdf
https://theactivefamily.org/why-is-protein-important/

Popular posts from this blog

Celebrating 25 Years

  Celebrating 25 Years of keeping the lights on afterschool! Fall Break is almost here!   Get ready for a fall, family adventure and a little competition! At SHADES, we are excited to launch the SHADES Fall Break “Bright Ideas” Family Scavenger Hunt.  The event is a family-friendly scavenger hunt throughout the community celebrating SHADES keeping the “Lights on Afterschool” in Knoxville for 25 years!  Disclaimer: Images from the Fall Break “Bright Ideas” Family Scavenger Hunt are the property of SHADES of Development and may be used for promotional purposes.  Participation in the Fall Break “Bright Ideas” Scavenger Hunt is at your own risk.  Participants agree to hold harmless SHADES of Development and its employees, volunteers, directors, and officers, from any injury, accident, liability, loss, cost, or demand incurred or sustained by your participation.
Post a Comment
Read more
💬12 Strategies to Promote Executive Function Article Source :  Childcare Education Institute, November 2020 Executive functions are a set of skills that allow us to successfully navigate the tasks and challenges of everyday life. The area of the brain where these skills reside is not fully developed until early adulthood. The strategies here are helpful for people of all ages.  Keep in mind, different strategies will work for different people. Remain creative and open to altering these suggestions to work for you and your children Consistent routines - Learning the predictable flow of the daily routine is an important executive function. Create a daily schedule that promotes security and has a few downtime periods as possible. Transition children in small groups, rather than moving large groups through the routine all at once. For example, send a few children to wash their hands before snack rather than having all of the children line up and wait for their turn to wash hands....
Post a Comment
Read more

Helping Preschool Understand Staying Healthy During COVID-19

With the economy opening back up and more and more businesses letting people inside, it is important to remember to wash your hands, practice physical distancing and if possible, wear a mask when you are going to be closer than 6 ft from someone. Helping our little ones understand the importance of these safety precautions can make all of this less intimating and can help them better adjust to the different rules and guidelines when going out in public. One thing parents can do is to simply talk to your kids. Telling them there is a germ or a virus outside that is making people very sick and here are some of the ways we can protect ourselves and others from getting sick. Opening up this dialogue with the kids helps them understand that they are helping keep themselves safe as well as their family and friends safe. When someone thinks of a superhero what comes to mind? Caps, superpowers, bravery and MASK. Telling kids they are active superheros during this time is a great way to bri...
Read more