This is especially important for our children who have diabetes. Their food needs change as they grow and as they exercise more or less during the week. Diet experts from the prestigious Mayo Clinic state that snacks for children should come from the bread, dairy foods, and fruits and vegetable groups of the food pyramid. Discuss with your child's doctor or nutritionist how many carbs should be in your child's snack.
In the bread group:
low fat crackers
bread sticks
pretzels
low and no fat rolls like bagels (measure; 1/2 of a 3-inch bagel = 1 carb)
baked chips
graham crackers
vanilla wafers
trail mix
rice cakes with fruit spread and natural peanut butter
air-popped popcorn
In the fruit and vegetable groups:
apple wedges
banana slices
oranges and tangerine sections
grapes
melon balls
peach or pear slices
unsweetened fruit juices
raisins or yogurt-covered raisins
strawberry slices
tomato and vegetables juices
baby carrots or carrot sticks
celery sticks stuffed with low-fat cream cheese or natural peanut butter
cherry tomatoes
cucumber slices
In the milk group:
low-fat milk
frozen low-fat, no sugar added yogurt or ice cream products
low-fat cheese
low-fat cottage cheese or ricotta
fruited low-fat yogurt
string cheese
fruit smoothies (made with nonfat yogurt, fruit, skim milk, and ice cubes)
When shopping for these products, examine the labels, as "low fat" does not translate into low calories all of the time. Sometimes sugar is added for bulk and taste thus adding to the carbohydrate count. Fat and cholesterol should not be limited in children under two years of age because they are necessary for growth and development. After age 2, low fat dairy products and leaner meat servings may be used.
Have snacks available in certain areas of the fridge for older children. Let children know the proper time to snack. This is not 30 minutes before a meal. Rather look to the middle of the morning and afternoon. Have a place in the pantry for snacks for older children . For younger children, pre-pack the snacks. Have them in lunch boxes or colorful sacks for younger children to make the snack special. Vary snacks so that children do not get bored.
How do you offer snacks? Suggest comparable snacks. Ask "do you want ice cream or yogurt. ', "apples or grapes" , not "pretzels or carrot sticks". Give the appropriate amount of snacks. Small children need little to eat, while older children need more. Snacks are not snacks if they ruin your child's ability to eat the next meal. For example a 4 year old may get 1/4 cup frozen yogurt, while a 12 year old may get 3/4 of a cup of the same frozen treat. Offer a variety of snacks. No one wants the same thing day in and day out. Think about how we try to vary our meals and then you'll understand this fact. Having said that, remember that young children may have a favorite snack for a long time. Another reason for selecting snacks from several areas of the food pyramid is that "forbidden foods" will not hold so much power over your child. Dress up fruits and vegetables with dips made from peanut butter, low-fat sour cream, low-fat cream cheese, etc. Cut the fruits and vegetables into different shapes. Also make sure that the snacks are appropriate to the age of your child. Never give children under 3 years of age things they can choke on like nuts, raisins, pop corn, raw vegetables, and fruits.
Don't give up if your child doesn't like a new food the first time. Try it over again done in another way. Don't fight over food or punish your child for not eating a new food. That sets you up for unhappy future meals. Ask your child what friends eat for snacks. They may not be able to eat Snickers bars, but they can have ice cream, peanut butter crackers etc. If your child goes to day care or school, never pack snacks that will make other children say "Yuck" when your child unpacks it. That is no way to make friends and influence peers. Model eating habits for your children. If you snack on veggies with dip, or fresh fruit, your children will model after you at least at home.
Nutritionists believe that when children are offered an array of healthful foods, they will select an appropriate diet. As you seek to influence your child's eating habits, go for the long haul. Consider what your child is eating over a few days-not just today. We know our diabetic children must have a certain number of calories to cover the insulin they take, so fighting over one food group on one day makes little sense and may lead to eating disorders in the long run, and hypoglycemia in the short run.
FTG
