Snacking at school is important for keeping hunger at bay and promoting learning and concentration among children. However, "USA Today" reports that many kids are eating items at snack time that are high in fat, sugar, calories and salt, which is partially to blame for the rise in childhood obesity in America. Providing your child with a nutritious snack is better for her health and school performance and reduces the risk of health conditions associated with a poor diet.
Chips
Many children enjoy a bag of chips at snack time, but many contain trans fats. This type of bad fat increases the risk of a child developing heart disease later in life and contributes to high cholesterol readings. Many brands of potato, corn and tortilla chips are too high in fat and calories to be considered a healthy snack. Most contain little to no nutrition in the form of vitamins and minerals, making them choices that are just empty calories. An alternative is to give your child baked chips, which are much lower in fat and calories and serve them with some salsa or guacamole to increase nutrition at snack time. Popcorn is another option for a child who likes a crunchy snack and it contributes to whole grain intake.
Candy
It's no secret that most children will choose candy as a snack if it is an option. Many schools offer a variety of candy in the cafeteria, vending machines or at the school store, making it difficult for children to resist. According to "Forbes" magazine, eating candy as a snack makes blood sugar spike and then drop, leaving a child feeling sluggish and moody. If your child enjoys a sweet snack at school, send him with a box of raisins or a piece of fresh fruit. These choices contain a good dose of fiber, which will keep him full until his next meal and will make it easier for him to concentrate in class.
Cookies and Cakes
Supermarkets sell packaged muffins, cookies, cakes and pastries that are easy to toss in your child's backpack. However, many are full of trans and saturated fats as well as high amounts of sugar, making them an unhealthy school snack. Regular consumption of these sweet treats puts your child at risk of obesity, heart disease, depression and diabetes. To give your child healthier snacks, prepare them at home with 100 percent fruit juice or pureed fruit to sweeten them and to replace much of the fat that goes into commercial products of this type. Use whole-wheat flour for fiber intake and add a few nuts, which contain heart-healthy fats.
Fruit Snacks
Don't let the name fool you; fruit snacks contain little, if any fruit. Most contain high amounts of coloring additives and high fructose corn syrup, making them little more than a glorified package of candy. Some may contain vitamin C, but your child will get that from a piece of fresh fruit, without all the calories and sugar. Kaboose recommends giving your child fruit with low-fat yogurt or peanut butter to dip it in or buying fruit leather, which is similar to a fruit roll up, but is made with 100 percent fruit and fruit juice.
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