Issue link: https://fredparent.uberflip.com/i/1340575
www.FredericksburgParent.NET 19 A healthy and well-balanced diet is important for kids to maintain healthy growth and development. Snack me is a great way to incorporate fruits and vegetables into a child's daily diet. Children have smaller-sized stomachs than adults and therefore are less likely to eat enough at meals to keep them full and energized un l the next meal me which makes snack me a great way for parents to get in those extra nutrients. They also off er a variety of benefi ts. Snacking helps kids develop healthy habits Including three meals and two healthy snacks into your child's daily diet helps kids learn healthy ea ng habits that will s ck with them for a life me. Providing a well-balanced and healthy diet helps kids learn appropriate por on control, to eat (and enjoy) a variety of foods including fruits and vegetables and to develop a healthy rela onship with food. Kids who learn these valuable habits early are less likely to form unhealthy ea ng habits such as ea ng out of boredom or based on emo onal factors. They also learn to eat when they are hungry and stop ea ng when they are full, a skill many adults struggle with. Snacking gives kids the boost they need Without snacking, kids are less likely to meet the suggested nutri onal intake to maintain a healthy diet because their stomachs are smaller and become full with a smaller meal. Adding two small snacks a day that provides fruit, veggies, low-fat dairy or whole grain helps kids fi ll in the nutri onal gaps they may have been missing from breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In addi on, snacks provide a boost of energy to get kids through the rest of the day. Snacking benefi ts a child's overall health The development of healthy ea ng habits at a young age decreases the likelihood of children develop- ing diseases like cancer, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Kids who eat more fruits and vegetables and less "junk food" that contain high quan es of sugar are also more likely to have be er dental hygiene. Kids who maintain a healthy diet, including smart snack choices, are less likely to binge on foods high in calories and carbohydrates and are more likely to maintain a healthy weight throughout their lives. Snacking helps power brain development Kids who eat healthy snacks are, generally, more prepared to listen and learn at school because their bellies are full. They have more energy and are more a en ve in class. Hungry kids become irritable, red, and less alert. A healthy snack can do a lot to help kids grow and develop properly. Now that we understand the great benefi ts of healthy snacking, how can we get our kids to eat the fruits and vegetables their bodies need? Preparing snacks that are fun encourages kids to try new foods and may even help them to forget they are ea ng healthy food at all. Here are some great snacks that kids will have fun ea ng. Benefi ts of Making Healthy Snacks Visually Appealing to Kids WRITTEN BY SARAH LYONS Ants on a log Fruit Kabobs Zucchini Spaghetti Visit www.FredericksburgParent.net for more healthy and visually appealing snack ideas.