I love summer vacation as much as the next mom, possibly even more. However, one of the statements that drives me most crazy, after “I’m bored” (which was literally uttered from my youngest on the same day that school ended!) is “I’m hungry.”
In the summer, kids are home more, and they’re also extra active, so it seems at though they’re always looking for a snack. The problem is that the majority of snacks out there are completely unhealthy and filled with unnatural and processed ingredients.
Christine Feliciano of Brooklyn Heights relates to the dilemma. She is the mom of two growing and energetic boys, ages 5 and 8, who seem to be constantly hungry.
“Sometimes, I’m convinced they’re not really famished, just bored, so I try to distract them with an activity. But they certainly tend to get more hungry during the summer, because they are running, swimming, and skating so much.”
Snacks are an integral part of a healthy diet. Often, by the time kids are really hungry, it is too late and they will eat anything — and too much of it, just like adults.
The key is to provide a variety of healthy snacks before they become ravenous.
Feliciano says she always has ice pops (made with fruit), yogurt, and popcorn ready to eat.
“I just learned recently that if I have ready-to-eat snacks, it makes my life and theirs much more pleasant. Boys especially get really hungry and when they want to eat, they want the food now!”
In addition to the typical healthy snacks such as fruit, yogurt, nuts, and pre-cut veggies, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents offer alternatives to typical fare and try something interesting. Here are some suggestions:
• Tofu
• Hummus
• Peanut butter with whole-grain crackers
• Pita bread with low fat dressings or dips
• Low-fat lunchmeats
By changing up the week’s snack offerings, you can also give your child some variety. Even adults grow tired of the same food selections when they are given time and time again.
One of the best snacks foods I’ve encountered this summer is GoBites, a blend of nuts, seeds, grains, fruits, and berries that create mini-meals that are easy to pack and eat on the go. My kids love them. Our favorite is the Tropical Gluten-Free Granola, 100 percent organic gluten-free granola made with cashews, coconut, mango, and bananas (GoBites.com). The younger ones don’t realize that what they are eating is completely natural and mostly organic; they just know they like the taste. They’re also good for busy moms and dads.
Danielle Sullivan, a Brooklyn-born mom of three, has worked as a writer and editor in the parenting world for more than 10 years. Sullivan also writes about pets and parenting for Disney’s Babble.com. Find her on Facebook and Twitter @DanniSullWriter, or on her blog, Just Write Mom.
