It’s hard to believe that summer is almost over and back-to-school activities are on the horizon. As kids are adjusting from summer to school time schedules yet another thing to keep in mind is the oh-so-important after school snack.
School days begin early, likely around 7 a.m. for most, and lunches happen typically around 11-11:30 a.m., so by the time the kiddos make it home they will be running on empty. Experts agree that if there are more than four hours between meals, children especially need additional nutrients and calories to keep them growing, feeling good and providing energy for mental stimulation, homework and emotional growth. A snack or small meal will satisfy hunger and help with attention span and performance.
The key is to make sure these snacks are nutritious and filling with the right amounts of protein, healthy fats and fiber. Here are a few good choices to have on hand to keep the kids awake, happy and healthy:
Fruits, veggies, crackers, cheese, nuts, peanut butter, pretzels, hard boiled eggs, olives and raisins. Be a tad creative and make: party snack mix, cheese quesadillas, granola bars, fruit smoothies, ham or turkey tortilla roll ups, hummus with pitas, yogurt, pretzels, fruit slushies, peanut butter and jelly bites, apples and celery with peanut butter or trail mix.
Sluggish kids are not as alert and have more of a tendency to act out. So feed your youngsters an after school snack and you might see it make all the difference for your busy evenings.
Source: KidsHealth.org