ALABAMA A&M and AUBURN UNIVERSITIES

 SUMMER SNACKS FOR KIDS

AUBURN, JUNE 18---When it comes to eating summer snacks, it's just as easy for kids to reach for a frozen orange wedge as a sugary snack cake.

Summertime often brings increased activity for children and with that increase comes the need for snacks to help meet their extra energy needs, says Dr. Evelyn Crayton, an Extension foods and nutrition specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

"About 20 percent of a child's calories and nutrients come from snacks. By giving some thought to snack selection, parents and care-givers can provide children with healthy choices," says Crayton. She suggests avoiding spur-of-the-moment snack purchases such as soft drinks, chips and candy.

Unsweetened fruit juices, milk shakes made with bananas and fruit juice, natural frozen fruit pops (bought or homemade), low-fat yogurt, low-salt, low-fat pretzels or whole wheat crackers, graham crackers, raw vegetables, frozen orange wedges or grapes, bagels or low-sugar cereals, are a few recommended summer snacks.

"Encourage your hungry child to eat carbohydrate snacks such as crackers and fruit juice. These are absorbed more rapidly and will satisfy hunger quickly," Crayton says.

The plan for providing healthy snacks includes education, convenience and some pre-planning. Crayton suggests making it easy for children and family members to find snacks by designating a special area for them in the refrigerator or on the counter.

She encourages parents and care-givers to include children when grocery list planning and to talk with them about proper times for snacks.

"Children should not have a snack too close to a meal. The best time is one to two hours before or after a meal," Crayton adds.

Most children need three meals and two snacks a day to meet nutritional requirements.

 
SOURCE: DR. EVELYN CRAYTON, Extension foods and nutrition specialist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, (334) 844-2224.