Rebecca Johnson
Alberta Health Services

It’s almost time for the new school year! Whether your kids spend their after-school time at home or on their way to an extra-curricular activity, they may be hungry. Plan and pack healthy snacks so your children get the right energy they need to grow and be active.

*Offer snacks at least two hours before dinner to keep your child from being too full at meal time.

*Choose foods from two of the four food groups from the new Canada’s Food Guide (available online in 28 languages) at snack time.

*Wash and slice vegetables and fruits; store them in a container in the fridge so they are easy to grab when you’re heading out the door.

*Keep a small supply of non-perishable snacks such as unsalted nuts, pretzels, or whole-grain crackers in a sports bag so your child can have a quick snack before activities or sporting events.

Plan ahead by stocking your fridge and cupboard with items that can be used to make these quick and healthy snacks:

*Low-fat cheese to eat with whole-grain crackers, mini whole-grain pitas, or apple slices.

*Peanut butter, soy butter or almond butter spread on a whole wheat tortilla and rolled around a banana. (Keep in mind that nut butters may not be allowed at some schools and sporting events because of allergies.)

*Low-fat yogurt with fresh, frozen, or canned fruit.

*Pair snacks with water, milk, fortified soy beverage, or 100 per cent fruit juice. Limit juice to ½ cup (125 mL) per day.

For more information, search “healthy snacking” at ahs.ca.