In a perfect world, all kids would happily eat apples and celery stick as snacks. But as all moms and dads know, we certainly do not live in a perfect world.
There are those dark times when junk food must prevail. So what is the "best of the worst" so to speak? There are healthier packaged snacks that sure to delight both kids and parents like Maia Lucier. "With both of us working, we try to go for the healthiest as possible snacks, and sometimes we have to rely on packaged stuff," Lucier said.
That's where clinical dietitian Lisa Cimperman of University Hospitals Case Medical Center comes in. No one is suggesting prepackaged snacks are as healthful as a handful of carrots, but according to Cimperman, many are way better than brownies. "Teaching children that you can have treats every once in a while and in moderation will go a long way towards making them healthy adults," she said.
On her list of the "best" packaged snack foods: Popcorn, Indiana Brand popcorns, Bear Naked Trail Mix, Quaker Oatmeal 25% Less Sugar Granola Bars and pretty much anything made by Kashi. "A good rule of thumb is no more than 3 grams of fat for every 100 calories," she says.
Cimperman also says that snacks should max out at 100 to 200 calories per serving. Dieticians also suggest looking for three to five grams of fiber and less than 8 grams of sugar per serving on snack foods.
What snacks do you give your kids? Have you found ways to make them healthier? Leave your thoughts below.
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Information courtesy of NBC News.
