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A Kid’s Guide to Healthy Summer Snacks

A Kid’s Guide to Healthy Summer Snacks

Once summer comes, you probably spend more time outside. A typical summer probably involves running and jumping at the playground, taking walks, swimming, playing baseball or softball on a team, and playing in your yard with neighborhood friends. This outdoor activity helps make you strong. To keep you going through your busy and active summer days, you will need to eat healthy foods. Not only will you need to eat good meals, but you will need to have regular snacks, too. Although you probably love foods like ice cream and candy, these foods won’t give your body the nutrients and energy it needs. There are better snack choices you can make that will probably taste just as good as those old favorites.

Why Healthy Snacks Are Good for You

You are growing quickly during your childhood years, so eating healthy foods is very important for kids. The time that stretches between breakfast and lunch and lunch and dinner can be five or six hours, which is a long time to go without eating. Adding snacks in between meals helps make sure that you have the energy you need throughout your day. Almost everybody likes to munch on sweet cookies and salty chips. While these types of foods might be fine for a treat once in a while, they shouldn’t be things you eat every day. Choosing healthy foods for your meals and snacks helps make sure that your body has the nutrients it needs to grow well and fight off illnesses. Sugary and fatty snacks often contain lots of calories, which can create other problems. Eating more calories than your body needs might cause you to gain weight, which can be unhealthy. Smart snacking will keep you energized with just the amount of calories you need to fuel your activities.

Healthy Alternatives to Favorite Snacks

Sugary foods usually taste delicious, so they are a favorite treat for many people. But another reason it’s wise to avoid eating sugary foods often is because they can cause cavities in your teeth. Your dentist probably urges you to choose crunchy fruits and vegetables instead of chewy candy because apples and carrot sticks help to keep your teeth strong and healthy. Dipping fruits and vegetables can make them even more delicious. You might try dipping apple slices into yogurt or peanut butter. For carrot sticks, try dipping them in hummus or guacamole for a tasty treat. Instead of ice cream on a hot summer day, you might make homemade frozen yogurt for a delicious and healthy snack. Popsicles you buy from the store probably taste great, but you can make your own frozen treats at home with fruit juice and vanilla yogurt. Whole-grain crackers and cheese can give you lots of good energy and protein for strong muscles. Even a bowl of low-sugar cereal and milk could be the perfect snack on a busy summer day. Try making a healthy snack mix for a delicious treat: Throw cashews, peanuts, almonds, raisins, sunflower kernels, and low-fat granola into a large bowl. Mix everything up well, and munch on this snack mix when you get hungry between meals. The drinks you choose should also be good for you. Reaching for sugary drinks like soda will add lots of calories to your diet. The sugar in soda is also bad for your teeth, so your dentist probably suggests that you avoid it. Instead of sugary drinks, choose juices without added sugar. Milk and cold water are also great choices that will satisfy your thirst without adding extra sugar to your diet.

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