Nutrition Experts
Question:
What are some nutritious snacks I can feed my kids during this busy holiday season?
Answer:
It helps to have some more nutritious options available for hungry tummies to balance out the abundance of holiday goodies. Try these tasty, kid-friendly snack ideas:

*
Trail mix—toss a mix of raisins, cranberries, dried apples, apricots or other dried fruit with assorted nuts and lower sugar cereal

*
Yogurt topped with fresh fruit

*
Peanut butter and banana slices sandwiched between whole grain bread, crackers or graham crackers (instead of peanut butter, try almond butter or soy nut butter, too)

*
Whole wheat pita wedges and hummus

*
Cut-up veggies (baby carrots, bell pepper strips, sugar snap peas) with low-fat ranch dressing or dip. Or you can make your own dip using plain yogurt or cottage cheese as a base

*
Fruit smoothie—blend a mix of frozen fruit with a splash of orange juice and a dollop of low-fat yogurt

*
Apple or pear slices with cheese or peanut butter

*
Cheese quesadilla with salsa. Add a small handful of drained, canned black beans to the quesadilla to boost fiber

*
Orange smiles

*
Banana dogs—spread peanut butter on a whole wheat hotdog bun, slip in a banana and sprinkle with raisins


Stock your kitchen with some of these basics so you'll always have a snack on hand. In-sight often means in-mind, so keep a bowl of fresh fruit on the counter for kids to grab and an assortment of cut up veggies at kids' eye-level in the fridge.
Nutritionist Experts
Our Nutrition Experts are registered dietitians who hold master’s degrees and are members of the American Dietetic Association and several specialty nutrition groups. They combine over 40 years experience in food and nutrition science, communications and counseling, the culinary arts and the development of nutrition education materials. They are quoted frequently in the national media and have written about nutrition for many major magazines, newspapers, and newsletters.