Children who go to school need snacks that support energy and concentration in the classroom and the playground. Snacks that are a combination of complex carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats are those that make a good school snack. If your child's school does not have a refrigerator, place his snack in a lunchbox with an ice pack to prevent it spoiling, or pack nonperishable items.
Crackers and Cheese
Crackers and cheese is quick to prepare and most children enjoy it. Use whole-grain crackers, which are a good source of complex carbohydrates, which fuel your child's body for playing and learning. The fiber in the crackers digests slowly, preventing hunger between meals. Cheese offers protein to support energy and a small amount of fat to keep her feeling full. Choose low-fat cheese to keep saturated fat and calorie intake moderate.
Fruit
Fruit is naturally sweet and is a healthy alternative to sugary snacks for children at school. It is also a good source of carbohydrates, giving your student the energy he needs to perform in the classroom. Serve fruit with a small amount of low-fat yogurt for dipping, which adds protein to the snack. Good choices include mangoes, apples, oranges, melon, berries and pears. Dried fruit is another healthy snack option and makes a good addition to trail mix. Some versions are high in sugar, which increases calorie content, so read the nutrition information to ensure you are buying a healthy snack.
Sandwich
A sandwich isn't only for lunch. Pack an extra sandwich in your child's lunchbox that she can eat in the afternoon to prevent feeling tired, which makes it difficult to concentrate and perform schoolwork. Try peanut butter and jelly on whole-wheat bread for a good mixture of complex carbohydrates, healthy fats and protein. Turkey with low-fat cheese rolled in a whole-wheat tortilla and tuna in a pita are other good sandwich options.
Trail Mix
Trail mix is versatile and allows you to mix and match ingredients to create new flavors. It is a good snack to take to school because it contains nutrients for energy and focus, but does not need to be kept cold. Combine unsweetened breakfast cereal, nuts, dried fruit and pretzels. Throw in a couple chocolate chips for a sweet treat. The combination of these foods offers carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats that help your child learn and remember new things and have the energy to play and grow at school.
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