Food for thought

March 21, 2008 | Print

Protein Snacks for Kids

We’ve been reading about the importance of protein in snacks. Our kids’ preschool teachers include protein in their morning snacks at school, and some nutritionists advise protein for afternoon snacks followed by a light dinner.

Protein gives kids balanced energy for a longer time. Plus, offering protein with sugary foods (like fruits and starches) can offset sugar highs.

Here are a few snack ideas we’re trying with our kids:

Hard boiled eggs

Goat yogurt

Goat cheese with crackers. Our recent cracker find, the wheat-free, gluten-free Mary’s Gone Crackers.

*Smoothie with nut butters or flax seeds

*Apples, crackers or rice cakes with nut butter

Kidney, pinto or navy beans, whatever the kids like. Eden Foods canned beans do not use Bisphenol-A in their packaging.

Applegate Farms hot dogs cut into pieces are easy to bring to the park. Chicken, turkey and our favorite the Great Organic Hot Dog. Some kids love the chicken and maple breakfast sausage, and the chicken apple sausage is good too.

*For nuts and nut butters, the usual advice is to wait until three years old before trying some nuts, given potential allergies. Discuss with your pediatrician first.

More snack ideas…Organic Snacks for the Park.

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