As we continue our Fitness Fanatics theme this month we have
talked with our students about making sure we are making healthy food choices.
We've played games, sang songs, done jigs and even drew stories depicting what
foods were healthy and which were not. One parent even had a special guest come
for a birthday party in one of our PreK classes, Sporticus from Lazy Town, who
loved to workout and eat "Sports Candy" like Broccoli and Cauliflower
to stay strong and healthy! There are so many ways to teach and be an example
every day about making healthy food choices.
Below is a list of
surprisingly healthy snacks you can introduce to your children at home or on
the go:
Popcorn: Popcorn actually has 4 grams of fiber per 3-cup
serving, which makes it a filling snack. Plus, it's endlessly versatile. You
can transform air-popped popcorn with all sorts of toppings, including grated
cheese, cinnamon, sugar, etc.
2. Ice Pops: Ice pops couldn't be easier to whip up. And when you make them yourself, you control exactly what goes in
them. Start with a liquid orange juice, lemonade, apple juice, etc and add a creamy texture like nonfat Greek
yogurt for the perfect blend!
3. Chips and Dip: A serving of pita or tortilla chips is
really fine nutritionally — it has filling fiber and can be a tasty vehicle for
healthy dips, such as hummus, black bean dip or salsa.
.4. Pizza: Pizza is really just another take on a sandwich,
and it can be a vehicle for healthy toppings like olives, sliced peppers, or
pineapple and ham. Use whole-wheat English muffins or buy pre-made whole-wheat
pizza dough and have your kids add their favorite toppings.
5. Cookies: You can make them healthy when you use the right
ingredients. Whole-wheat pastry flour can be subbed for white flour in most
cookies. Rolled oats add even more fiber. And in some recipes you can replace some of the butter with
applesauce to lighten up the saturated fat. Serve them with low-fat milk and
you have a nutritious, balanced snack for your kids.
