🍎🥕 After-School Snack Ideas for Healthy, Happy Kids! 🥪🍊

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Hey parents! When the school bell rings, it’s snack time! Providing nutritious snacks not only fuels your kids but also supports their active lifestyles. Here are some tasty and fun snack ideas that your kids will love:

Pump up the fun:

  • Popsicle smoothie: turn your favorite smoothie into a popsicle by pouring it into a popsicle mold and freezing overnight.
  • Yogurt Parfait: top Greek yogurt with granola and berries 
  • Hummus Fondue: Mix low-sodium vegetable broth into hummus. Serve with whole-grain bread cubes, crackers, pretzels or sliced veggies
  • Snacky Sushi: spread peanut butter on a tortilla, wrap a banana in it and slice into “sushi” pieces
  • Frozen Yogurt Fruit Bark: Line baking sheet with parchment paper, pour yogurt onto baking sheet, sprinkle chopped fruit and freeze. 
  • Orange Bowl: Scoop out an orange half, fill it with whole-grain cereal and milk, and arrange orange segments around it for a sunny snack.
  • Burger Kebabs: Cook a veggie or turkey burger, cut into pieces, and thread onto skewers with cherry tomatoes and pita triangles. Drizzle with ketchup or mustard.
  • Smoothie Soup: Blend frozen fruit with vanilla yogurt and 100% fruit juice. Serve chilled in a bowl or a cantaloupe “bowl.”
  • Ant Attack: Spread peanut butter on celery and top with raisins.
  • Fruit Sundae: fill waffle cone with strawberries, drizzle with nut butter and top with slivered almonds.
  • Apple pizza: slice apple and top with nut butter, fruit, seeds and drizzle with honey.

Keeping it simple:

  • Trailmix
  • Banana + peanut butter
  • Hummus + pretzels or sliced veggies
  • Yogurt drink
  • Cheese stick + grapes
  • Baby carrots + peanut butter
  • Roasted chickpeas
  • Hard boiled egg + crackers
  • Popcorn + nuts
  • Edamame 
  • Yogurt cup and fruit

Remember, snacks can be delicious and nutritious! Help your kids meet their nutrition goals with these creative ideas. 🌟 #HealthyKids #AfterSchoolSnacks

Does Eating Less Meat Equal Less Energy?

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Eating less meat means consuming less saturated fat, which may reduce our risk of heart disease and cancer. For some, easting a yogurt instead of pizza for lunch may make some feel like they are running on an empty tank during their zumba class in the evening. Inadequate protein can lead to decreased performance, increased workout fatigue, and more muscle soreness following exercise.You can meet your protein needs with healthy foods such as poultry, fish, eggs, legumes, nuts, nut 
 butters, and seeds as well as low-fat dairy products, including cottage cheese, milk, and yogurt. 
Eliminating meat completely can be a challenge. Plant-based proteins can provide the essential amino acids your body needs to repair and build muscle. Some examples are, tofu, tempe, seitan, soy crumbles, soy burgers, soybeans (frozen edamame, canned soy beans, and dried soy nuts), legumes, soy yogurt, soy cheese, nuts, and nut butters. Snacks to eat after a workout may include protein rich pick-me-ups like whey protein shakes spiked with fruit juice, trail mix, hummus and crackers with raw veggies, soy yogurt with fresh fruit, smoothies made with soy milk, and silken tofu with diced fruit. 
If you are unsure about how many grams of protein you should be consuming a day, your dietitian can help you determine the right goal for you.
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Source:  http://www.todaysdietitian.com/healthandnutrition/nutrition/