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By
Catherine Pruissen
Snacks
are important for preschoolers. Why? For
many reasons. Children are very active and become
hungry between meals. They also have small stomachs
and cannot eat a large amount of food.
As a result they may not get enough calories and nutrients
to grow and develop properly. Eating small amounts
of food more often will help boost their energy to
be active and grow.
Tips
For Terrific Snacks
1) Use Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating
to plan your child's
snack by choosing food
from the four food groups more often.
The four food groups are:
Grain products
Vegetables and
fruit
Milk products
Meat and Alternatives.
2)
Limit snacks that are high in fat, sugar and
salt as they are not
nutritious. Examples
include chips, pop, and candy.
3) Variety is the spice of life. Vary
your child's snacks often.
4) Plan to have at least two hours between snacks
and meal time.
Yogurt
Pops:
Mix 250 ml plain yogurt with 60 ml unsweetened frozen
fruit juice concentrate, 25 ml honey and 5 ml vanilla.
Spoon mixture into paper cups. Fill cups half full.
Place in freezer. When mixture is almost frozen, insert
a popsicle stick. Put back into freezer. To eat, peel
off the paper. (Makes 10 servings).
Raspberry
Pear Boats:
Place a scoop of vanilla ice cream on half a canned
pear. Top with raspberries and serve.
Crazy
Cheese & Crackers:
Cut sliced cheese with small cookie cutters. Place
the cheese on crackers, and eat.
Pizza
Bagels:
Spread pizza sauce, grated cheese and a few slices
of pepperoni on half a bagel. Heat until cheese melts.
Serve with a cold glass of milk.
Funky
Juice:
Freeze grape, raspberry, and pineapple juice in ice
cube trays. To serve, place one of each of the
juice cubes in a glass with a straw.
Banana
Sticks:
Cut a banana in half, lengthwise. Spread one
side with peanut butter and put the two slices back
together. Wrap with plastic and freeze. For
more variety, roll the banana in coconut and chopped
walnuts.
Mexican
Dippers:
Cut soft corn tortillas into bit size pieces. Sprinkle
with grated cheddar cheese and place onto a cookie
sheet. Bake at 425 degrees F for 7 minutes.
Serve with mild salsa.
Shaken
Banana:
Peel 1 ripe banana and place in blender. Blend.
Slowly add 500 ml milk and 1 ml vanilla. Mix
well. Serve cold. Makes 5 - 125 ml servings.
For
More Information Contact:
The
Dairy Nutrition Council of Alberta
14904
121 A Avenue
Edmonton,
Alberta
Ph:
1-800-252-7530
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