Healthy Children Healthy Futures

Information:
Snacking is part of healthy eating. The big problem with snacking is that eating too many sweets, chips and other high calorie, high fat and high sugar foods can cause weight gain. Snacking on more healthy foods, instead of junk food, can help prevent weight gain and provide more energy.

• Nutritious foods that contain vitamins and minerals, rather than empty calories from sugar and fat.
• Healthy snacks that give you energy, but do not fill you up too much.

What are junk foods?
• Junk foods contain lots of sugar, fat and salt, and they are high in calories. Examples of junk food include: cookies, candy, pop-tarts, cakes and chips.
• Drinks which also contain a lot of calories are soda, lemonade and fruit punch.

• Eat healthy snacks only when you are hungry.
• If you eat healthy snacks such as yogurt or fresh fruit when you get home from school, you will still be hungry for dinner.
• Healthy snacks provide additional vitamins and minerals.
• A healthy snack, such as a bowl of low-sugar cereal or fresh fruit before going to bed is a good choice.
• Drinking water or milk instead of soda with snacks is a better choice.
• Eating meals in front of the TV sometimes causes overeating. For example, you might eat a whole bag of pretzels instead of just a small bowl because you are concentrating on the TV show and not on what you are eating. Many commercials on TV are for junk food snacks.
• Look for the healthy snack commercials.

Healthy Snacks:
1. Fresh fruit: bananas, plums, oranges, strawberries, peaches and apples
2. Low-fat yogurts
3. Popcorn (microwave without butter!)
4. Rice cakes or pretzels
5. Fruits smoothie with yogurt and frozen fruit
6. Animals crackers and graham crackers
7. Cut-up vegetables
8. Low-sugar cereals and low-fat milk
9. String cheese
10. Tomato pizza pie plain or with your favorite vegetables

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Information: Snacking is part of healthy eating. The big problem with snacking is that eating too many sweets, chips and other high calorie, high fat and high sugar foods can cause weight gain. Snacking on more healthy foods, instead of junk food, can help prevent weight gain and provide more energy. What are healthy snacks? • Nutritious foods that contain vitamins and minerals, rather than empty calories from sugar and fat. • Healthy snacks that give you energy, but do not fill you up too much. What are junk foods? • Junk foods contain lots of sugar, fat and salt, and they are high in calories. Examples of junk food include: cookies, candy, pop-tarts, cakes and chips. • Drinks which also contain a lot of calories are soda, lemonade and fruit punch. Healthy snack tips: • Eat healthy snacks only when you are hungry. • If you eat healthy snacks such as yogurt or fresh fruit when you get home from school, you will still be hungry for dinner. • Healthy snacks provide additional vitamins and minerals. • A healthy snack, such as a bowl of low-sugar cereal or fresh fruit before going to bed is a good choice. • Drinking water or milk instead of soda with snacks is a better choice. • Eating meals in front of the TV sometimes causes overeating. For example, you might eat a whole bag of pretzels instead of just a small bowl because you are concentrating on the TV show and not on what you are eating. Many commercials on TV are for junk food snacks. • Look for the healthy snack commercials. Healthy Snacks: 1. Fresh fruit: bananas, plums, oranges, strawberries, peaches and apples 2. Low-fat yogurts 3. Popcorn (microwave without butter!) 4. Rice cakes or pretzels 5. Fruits smoothie with yogurt and frozen fruit 6. Animals crackers and graham crackers 7. Cut-up vegetables 8. Low-sugar cereals and low-fat milk 9. String cheese 10. Tomato pizza pie plain or with your favorite vegetables
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