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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/

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