Back
to School and into The Kitchen
What
do kids think of first when they get home from school? That’s
easy - SNACKS!
The
most important part about after school snacks is that a parent or
care provider made them. This is arguably the time when a parent can
have the most influence on their child’s future, as far as nutrition
is concerned.
I
grew up in a home where there were often baked goods on the table
when I walked in from school. While it was great to have wonderful
cookies, cupcakes, cakes and goodies after school when I was really
hungry, I must say that as an adult it is hard to shake the habit
of “treating” myself with such goodies. When we had those
home-baked goodies, it seemed like a sign of my mom’s love,
so I associate a lot with baked goods. This has only lead to problems
with being overweight. Conversely, If there are healthy snacks on
the table when the kids first enter the kitchen, they will go for
those first and eventually they will associate many good memories
with healthy foods.
More
than adults, children need the right kind of carbohydrates to sustain
their energy requirements. However, because many children have a hard
time getting much, if any protein on a daily basis, it becomes a challenge
to balance between protein and good carbohydrates in a low fat snack
that is appealing to kids.
Remember,
presentation is everything. With kids, if it has a smiley face, it
is probably good.
For
your FREE kids and teens snack booklet contact mvanhorn24@hotmail.com