SIMPLE WAYS YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR KIDS SNACKS JUST IN TIME FOR BACK TO SCHOOL!!!

 

It's the most wonderful time of the year!......you know the song!!  Well it's time to dust the sand off your feet, put away the sunblock, and finish buying school supplies......even worse, it's time to start thinking about school lunches and snacks. This is what I do....try to look at the first day of school as if it's New Year's Day.....a new beginning!!! I do and I also try to take the opportunity the make good changes in my kids nutrition.  I strongly urge you to take this opportunity to make small changes....very subtle to start. 
First and foremost, I beg of you to please, please, please......buy the snack size "baggies" to teach your kids proper portion sizes.  Even if you fill them with what you would normally give them, I can guarantee you that you will cut the portion size in half if you buy these bags (see above!!!!).  Also very cool are the little disposable containers that are available in the supermarkets (see above!!!)......only I just keep washing them and reusing them....no waste!! 
Second, lets talk about what we can fill these bags and containers with.  My advise, make one change at a time.......kids and adults for that matter adapt best with small changes...one at a time, maybe one per week.  Introduce one new healthy food at a time.  For example, if you typically give them regular potato chips, buy a bag of baked chips and mix them in with regular chips and then taper off the amount of regular chips as time goes on until there are no more!!!.  Give them low fat or reduced fat cheese cubes or sticks instead of the full fat version.   Instead of those orange stained puffs or chips....give them Whole Grain Goldfish, whole grain crackers, pretzels, or Pirate Booty.   Nuts are always a great protein packed snack and if you mix them with pretzels, raisins, or dried fruits......you have an awesome trail mix!!!! The high protein snack bars (so many to choose from) also make a great school snack.  Kind Bars, Cliff Bars, Special K Bars are all great choices!!!

Don't count out Vegies or Fruits as snacks either!!!!  Put some humus, reduced fat peanut butter, or low fat ranch dressing in one the small containers you are going to buy (my subliminal message) and your kids can dip them!!!
As parents, we need to remember that we set the example and we buy the food!!!!  Yes, kids are creatures of habit.....but we can still change what we started......that's right...we created this and we can change it!!!  Sit down with them in the next few weeks and explain to them that you are going to slowly change their snacks to help improve their health....involve them....the more you involve them...the more they will feel a part of it.  Ask them if there is anything they would like to try...you may be surprised...and if they don't like what you're doing....just remember you're THE BOSS!!! Stay strong and remember that it's our job to teach our kids what good nutrition is.  Good luck and if you have any questions......please post and ask!!