Preschooler snack options

MOST preschools have a healthy meal programme which most children partake in. However, outside of this main meal, most institutions allow parents to pack snack items for their children to have during break periods before and after lunch. Unfortunately, many parents, at the request of their little ones, often fill their lunchboxes with chips, biscuits and juices that have very high sugar content and little or no nutritional value.

Nutritionist Jenelle Solomon said that parents should not yield to the pressure or fall into the trap of going for what is popular, because these food choices may have serious, lasting consequences such as childhood obesity and diabetes.

“Eating a lot of sugary snacks this young has been linked to several chronic illnesses such as obesity, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. If that is not bad enough, these conditions increase the risk of developing heart conditions. As such, you want to limit the amount of sugar your child consumes and as best as possible, keep it away from children under two years of age,” Solomon advised.

What snack items should you offer then? Solomon shares a variety of healthy and delicious snack options that you can put in your child’s snack box.

Fruits

Fresh fruits are always a good snack option. They can be had almost any time of the day and provide the child with plenty of essential vitamins and minerals.

Vegetables

Not every child is into veggies, but for those who are, be sure to offer snack portions. Some interesting options that you can try include carrot sticks with a side of peanut butter or applesauce, vegetable salad with their favourite fruits, and you can grill some of these vegetables if your child likes this.

Suitable dairy options

Little children’s growing bones require healthy doses of calcium. This is found naturally in dairy products such as milk and cheese. So consider giving your child a box of milk, cheese and crackers, or fruit yoghurt. These foods are best kept and served cool so you might want to consider investing in an insulated lunch kit/box.

Sandwiches

Most children like sandwiches — well, if you use their favourite fillings that is. Rotate the fillings to keep meals interesting. So, for example, you can use peanut butter, fruit jams, tuna, cheese, sliced meat, and eggs. With sandwiches, you also have the opportunity to incorporate vegetables, so add some shredded carrots, slices of tomato, and cucumber or lettuce.

Baked goods

Baked products sound like the opposite of everything that we are aiming for, but the truth is that they don’t have to be unhealthy. You can prep your cakes, muffins, and cookies for your child’s snack by using a variety of fruits and vegetables as the main ingredients. Fruits such as apples, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, and even pineapples are common ingredients in pastries. Vegetable options such as carrot, pumpkin, zucchini, and beetroot also make delicious treats.

Liquid options

Little children love having liquids and it’s good to ensure you provide adequate amounts of liquid to keep them hydrated. Outside of milk and plenty of water, you should also consider making natural fruit blends to replace sugary box drinks that so many of us give to our children. This is a much healthier option for children and just another way that you can help to nourish your child with vitamins and minerals.