Snack Swaps for Kids
Trying to pack a healthy lunchbox for your kids? Make these easy snack swaps to go from a sugar high to high in nutrients.
Beverages
A box stamped with “100 percent juice” doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Ditch the juice and instead choose water you flavor at home—think berries and citrus.
Crunchy, Salty
Put down the bag of chips and go for popcorn instead. Air-popped popcorn is low in calories and better for kids than potato chips.
Dairy
Whether it’s string cheese or chocolate milk, there’s value in going organic. The trick is to make sure sugar content isn’t over the top and to avoid high fructose corn syrup. Another option? Plain Greek yogurt over flavored sugary varieties.
Sweet Tooth
Instead of plopping even the smallest candy bar into your child’s lunch, choose a helping of dried fruit or dark-chocolate covered raisins or blueberries. There’s still some sugar but in comparison, it’s a small amount, and there are more healthy components, too!
Easy to Pack
A fast option for pre-prepared snacks doesn’t have to mean cookies and crackers. There’s plenty in the way of prepackaged snack options these days that offer more nutrients. Reach for a bag of dried, roasted veggies (try Crunchies) or organic applesauce (like GoGo squeeZ).
