Archive Issue - Monthly Tidbits Article
August 2007

Kid's Snack Tidbits
by Jill Jackson

Raise your hand if your kids started back to school this week. Okay, now raise your hand if you are confident that they are getting the best quality foods during mealtime—and yes, even after naptime for those still lucky enough to be lulled to sleep with “GOODNIGHT, MOON.”

Chances are, many parents have become so disappointed by the lack of nutrients in your children’s meals that you have either resigned yourself to the fact that this is inevitable, or have taken it upon yourselves to make it a ritual to pack them lunches that they may either eat, trade or throw away. I know, it’s a frustrating concept, many times wasted energy that makes you want to raise your hands in exasperation rather than in eager anticipation of a provided remedy.

Well, in order to at least minimize the confusion, these tips may help you send your kids off with a smile on their face—and yours.

First, go to your pantry and take out all of the snacks that boast convenience, such as fruit roll-ups, 100-calorie packs of cookies, and individual snack cakes. These are touted as healthier alternatives for children but are made with mostly artificial flavors, additives and preservatives and are difficult to metabolize and have been a root cause of much of the increase in childhood diabetes in this country.

Second, you are better off giving your child a real brownie or chocolate chip cookie, rather than one that comes from the refrigerated section of your local grocery store. If you are going to treat your kids to something yummy, dispense of mixes. Check the local bakery’s ingredient list to ensure that sucralose, dextrose, lecithin, yellow dye, red dye, etc.. are not primary elements.

The marketplace is filled with mixed messages, so it’s no wonder that we listen to many of them and hope for the best. One message I’d like to make perfectly clear is this: You and your kids deserve the best.

Let’s work together to make sure we all get what we deserve.