All Articles, Food & Nutrition
A Healthy Mom`s Snack Binge
| October 13, 2009 | |
| Phyllis McCarthy : Head Mommy Ego |
Several weeks ago I took a break from my normal response to my darling daughters when they come to me and say, “I’m huuuungry.” I’m not sure what interrupted my usual mantra: “Would you like a fruit or a vegetable?” Maybe it was the five year old asking for everything she saw, or that I am tired of swimming upstream, wanting more convenience or variety, or I was just in the mood for a change.
It all started on a very occasional trip to Costco where I succumbed to trying some of the healthier packaged snack foods. So we bought Kashi granola bars, Annie’s organic snack cookies/crackers, apple chips, pita chips, and pretzel crisps, all in the name of consumer research, of course.
Here is what I found. The kids do prefer a snack wrapped in shiny packaging that resembles something they saw on TV or watched their friends eat. They will beg, plead, and bargain to get it. They ask to snack more often when these choices are available –more often than they did before when their only choice was a fruit or vegetable. They are satisfied in the short term, but their energy quickly wanes.
Also, our garbage has increased. All that packaging doesn’t compost, and since the girls are really into the “reduce, reuse, recycle” mantra taught to them at school, I need to leverage that explanation better. It takes only a little more effort to prepare a fruit or vegetable for consumption, and I feel so much better as I watch them eat it. It’s a little “mommy moment” for me. Nourishing my kids is definitely a source of energy for me.
Fortunately, the packaged snacks are running out and I will soon return to my former mantra of “Would you like a fruit or a vegetable?” Our favorite portable snacks include avocados, organic apples, clementines, celery, carrots, nuts, craisins and chia seeds.
It’s not that I’m against all packaged snack foods all the time; I just find that if it’s in the house, that is what the children will beg for when it comes time for a snack. I also believe that since there are plenty of opportunities (e.g., school, friend’s houses, restaurants, church, and activities outside the home) where they have less healthy snack choices, I must provide the healthiest snack possible when they are home to maintain the balance.
Have other mom’s noticed this? Do your kids tend to binge when shiny and popular “convenience snacks” are an option? What healthy snack items are available for your kids?
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[14 Comments] [14 Comments]
I shared the simple sliced apple and peanut butter with my kid/husband last night. It’s one of those simple healthy snack ideas, but I was surprised how much the aroma reminded of caramel apples – without the high sugar and sticky goo.
You might also try mixing organic vanilla yogurt and peanut butter for another twist on the dip.
My boys love the shiny packaged stuff!!!! They get so sick of me saying, “Pick a healthy snack!” Luckily, they do love their raspberries, though I am running out of season for those, strawberries, sliced apples, cantaloupe balls, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and pistachios! But, man, give them a bag of goldfish or a granola bar or pretzel sticks, popcorn, chips and salsa and they go wild!!!! I don’t know what to do with the Halloween candy in a couple weeks!
Absolutely the kids want the shiny packages . . . especially if there’s a character on it. That’s my top rule at the store, the kids know, if it has a character on it-it can’t be good for you! We do a lot w/ nuts, bananas, grapes . . . It’s just a matter of changing habits. If they are used to their “healthy” options it’s better for everyone (health and environment). It’s just hard sometimes b/c the junk is so easy.
I really enjoyed this article. Fortunately, my kids don’t have nut allergies and they love pistachios for a quick snack. Honey crisp apples are in season, so they are going through a lot of those these days.
One of my favorite things to make for snack is what I call a “sunshine”. You put a pineapple ring in the middle of a plate and put sliced strawberries around the outside. It looks like a sun! It’s healthy, my son loves it and, just as important, asks for it! Also, edamame is a great quick healthy snack as well!
I love shiny wrappers, too. I am with your girls. I wish you were my mommy. They are lucky to have you!
Great article! You hit on a key point also, when you mentioned peer pressure. My kids want what they see on commercials or what the other kids at school have.
shiny wrappers are never an option in our pantry so the kids do not ask for them. Of course if you buy them they will ask and plead for the wrapper instead of fresh fruit. I love having trail mix on hand for the kids….I make my own with various organic nuts and dried fruits! They love it!
We love to make nibble trays with all kinds of yummy healthy foods. What you do is take a muffin pan and put in apples, grapes, blueberries, nuts, carrot sticks, celery, pepper strips, hard boiled eggs, garbanzo beans and anything else that is in the pantry or fridge. Also include healthy dips like nut butters and hummus and the kids can graze all morning or afternoon long and they won’t bother you!
I put Chia seeds in my salads and soups, but Chia seeds…. For a snack?
yes, we actually use chia mixed with water for a snack and sometimes peanut butter balls rolled in chia seeds for a protein boost…my youngest will also eat it plain kind of like nuts
You are right on about the shiny wrappers Phyllis! We fell into the “healthy costco snack” trap before our trip out west this summer and I found some time to read the product labels on our first leg from Columbus to Madison…not as healthy as you might think…even the organic ones are filled with some nasty stuff and tons of sugar. We still like the La’ra bars in a pinch! They are mostly dried fruit and nuts, but come with a shiny wrapper! Check them out some time.