Keeping little ones healthy during the summer months doesn’t need to be a challenge! You don’t need to scour the nutrition labels of every snack for protein counts, calories, and ingredients; there’s no need to obsessively Google every foreign term. Following a simple set of guidelines when choosing their snacks can change mid-afternoon meals from a hassle to a warm summer breeze. Providing a delicious and healthy summer snack for your kids is as easy as 1-2-3, and we’ve got all three things you’re looking for!
- No Artificial Preservatives or Colors
Have you ever read the back of a bottle or box and struggled to even pronounce some of the items listed under ‘ingredients’? It’s increasingly common for popular snack companies to pad out their inventory with a laundry list of preservatives and colors. These artificial additives aren’t going to do anything positive for a child’s physical health, and could actually harm them. Think about what a preservative is meant to do: keep the food from decaying over time. Lab-created preservatives don’t break down naturally in the box, which means they also won’t break down naturally after being consumed. When choosing a healthy summer snack for your child, opt for something which omits any artificial preservatives and colors.
- Less Sugar
Sure, sugar tastes good and kids will choose it every time if they could, but it’s absolutely terrible for a developing child’s physical and mental health. Excessive sugar during snack time causes spikes in energy levels, leading to the dreaded ‘sugar rush’ and inevitable crash which follows. Over time, the release of excess hormones caused by sugar can affect a child’s overall wellbeing. When consumed in large quantities, sugar can actually cause your child to develop an addiction. Sugar addiction leads to poor attention span, irritability, and stress. To avoid any ill effects, choose a healthy summer snack which boasts less sugar, and you’ll see a difference immediately.
- Portion Control
Kids need fewer calories than an adult does, period. It’s so easy to set a bowl of chips in front of them and let them munch away, but you aren’t doing them any favors if you choose that route. A crucial part of a child’s nutritional development is learning about portion control during a young age, and the summertime gives them plenty of hours to learn. Instead of allowing them to eat whatever they want, let them pick a certain time to eat and give them a pre-portioned snack suitable for their size, such as a deliciously flavored straw paired with an ice cold glass of protein-packed milk. Buy Sipahh straws to make a healthy summer snack.
