There are many inexpensive snacks for you and your family to enjoy
Try these snack ideas with your family.
- 1 cup of raw vegetables (cucumber slices, carrot and celery sticks, or bell pepper strips) with 2 tablespoons of hummus or low-fat dressing for dipping
- ½ cup of low-fat cottage cheese with fruit
- Low-fat cheese (1 slice) divided over three whole-grain or whole-wheat crackers
- ¼ cup of dried fruit such as raisins or cranberries, mixed with ¼ cup of whole-grain cereal
- Fruit cup in 100% fruit juice
- 2 cups of frozen seedless grapes
- Low-fat graham crackers with unsweetened applesauce for dipping
- 3 cups of reduced-fat popcorn (unbuttered)
- 1 cup of low-fat or non-fat yogurt
- ½ of an apple and 1 tablespoon of peanut butter
Healthy snacking is good for everyone
- Use snacks that include food groups your children may have missed during regular meals.
- Make snack portions small and offer seconds if your child asks for more.
- Some snacks are healthier than others. Decide which ones you will allow and when. Explain the rules to your child and stick to them.
- Take healthy and easy-to-eat snacks like apple slices and vegetable sticks when you go to appointments or run errands.
For more healthy snack ideas developed by the UMass Amherst Nutrition Education Program visit https://extension.umass.edu/nutrition/recipes/snacks-and-drinks
