Packed Snacks Don’t Stack Up
Tuesday 5 February 2008
Packed Snacks Don’t Stack Up
Snacks are a great opportunity to fuel growing bodies and minds, they can be quick, easy and healthy, and this is more likely to be true when they are not from a packet.
“Popcorn can be an easy, light and healthy
snack to give kids, but did you know that some pre-packaged
microwave popcorn contains more fat than a Big Mac
burger?” says Southland District Health Board HEHA Manager
Melanie McKenzie.
So the Southland DHB advises that when
it comes to giving kids snacks, not to just reach for the
packets.
“Instead try and choose simple, home-prepared snacks – that way you’ll know what’s in them,” says Mrs McKenzie. “ For example popcorn made on a stove or in a popcorn maker is usually much better for kids, especially as you get to choose how much fat or sugar you add.”
The focus on healthy snacking is part of a nationwide campaign running during February from the national healthy eating programme Feeding our Futures, which offers parents advice on how to achieve a healthy diet for kids.
Popcorn is just one snack idea for kids being promoted but there are many others that can save parents time and money, made from everyday items found in the fridge or kitchen cupboard.
“Another great quick snack is a mini pizza – made using a half muffin or pita bread, topped with tomato puree, cheese, a few mushrooms and grilled – simple!” said Mrs McKenzie.
“To make sure your kids will eat them, try
getting kids to help you prepare the snacks. If they’ve
helped make them, they’re more likely to want to try
them.”
Snacks like banana smoothies or fruit kebabs are
an easy, fast example that kids can have fun making. Or
choose colourful snacks that are cut up into bit size pieces
– like carrot sticks or cut up fruit.
According to a national survey, New Zealand children are snacking on more high-fat, high-sugar snacks then is good for them. Snacks like potato crisps, corn snacks and chips were consumed weekly by 93 percent of New Zealand kids. Biscuits were consumed weekly by 78 percent and but only 17 percent of children were eating popcorn weekly.
With less then half of New Zealand children eating fruit at least twice a day, and 57 percent eating vegetables three or more times day, snacking on fruit and vegetables is also a great way of making sure kids are getting enough goodness in their diets.
The message about snacking from Feeding our Futures is
“make it quick, make it easy, make it fun.” They are
offering parents lots of new ideas for tasty, quick, healthy
snacks. For more ideas visit
www.feedingourfutures.org.nz
.
Top Snack Ideas for
Kids
• Carrot and celery sticks with dip
• Hard
boiled eggs
• Home-made popcorn
• Cherry
tomatoes
• Mini muffins
• Crackers and
cheese
• Cereal and milk
• Celery with peanut
butter filling
• Pikelets
• Fruit
bread
• Sliced apple
•
Healthy Snacks recipes:
(photos available)
Crowded Canoes: Simple fun and tasty!
• Chop up sticks of celery
• Add a scoop of
either peanut butter or cottage cheese
• Add a few
raisins
• Add a few rice
bubbles
• Enjoy!
•
Mini – Pizzas
• Take
a half an English muffin or a pita bread
• Top with
some tomato puree or a sliced tomato
• Grate cheese on
top
• Add a few sliced mushrooms
• Grill until
cheese is bubbling
• Enjoy!
•
Popcorn with
sweet and spice topping
• Heat 1 tablespoon of
vegetable oil in a heavy-based saucepan
• Add 1 cup of
popping corn
• Cover the pan with a lid and shake over
the heat to prevent browning
• Corn should be popped in
2 – 3 minutes
• Add 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, 1
teaspoon cinnamon and a 1⁄2 cup of sultanas after the corn
has
popped
• Enjoy!
•
ends