KIDS AND NUTRITION

By Amanda Stevens, Candance Gabel, MS, RD, LD, Associate State Nutrition Specialist, University of Missouri-Columbia

Trying to get kids to eat healthy snacks is not always an easy task.  Keep reading for some hints to make snacking for kids more nutritious...

Try making snacks more fun. Use brightly-colored fruits and vegetables. Make things out of their snacks like ants on a log with celery filled with peanut butter, topped with raisins as the ants. Try different textures by combining soft foods with crisp foods; cheese and crackers. Get them involved in snacking by growing your own vegetables or telling them stories about where different fruits come from. Let them help make the snacks. This can save you time and money by having them prepackage their own snacks from bulk items. If these ideas don't work for you, eliminate the higher sugar and fat snacks from the pantry. If they don't see other options, they will be more likely to try different ones.