Snack Attack

"I'm hungry, can I have a snack?" If you don't hear this at least once a day, then you more than likely do not have a kiddo residing in your home.

The "snack battle" is real because oftentimes as caregivers, we have to decipher between boredom and actual hunger for someone else. Following a few general rules can help cut down on potential frustrations:

1. Follow a general meal routine (e.g., morning snack is about 2 hours after breakfast).
2. Prepare snacks ahead of time with your kids so they understand exactly what the snacks will consist of.
3. Allow fun snacks every now and then (e.g., an applesauce pouch for when we know snack time will hit during our time at the pumpkin patch).

Cooking meals takes time and planning.  With the effort that goes into it, you’ll want your family to reap the benefits. If snacks consume their afternoon, dinner becomes a hopeless cause.

Fruits and vegetables during the winter months may seem less plentiful as compared to those produced during the spring and summer seasons. However, a few tips can help ensure your family is getting the 4-5 servings each of fruits and vegetables needed daily. Online resources are available both nationally and locally that list produce by season. Once familiar with what will be available to you, review the best cooking methods for those seasonal produce items (e.g., all root vegetables can be pan roasted together to yield a colorful side dish).

Go beyond fresh produce to include frozen, canned and dehydrated fruits and vegetables in your meal plans. These additional items pack nutrition and can add satisfying texture to dishes. Committing to produce-bassed meals a few times per week can also add benefits. By incorporating a hearty salad or vegetable stir-fry regularly, meal planning becomes easier and more nutrient dense. Finally, when eating out, choose items that you do not typically cook at home (e.g., beets).

Maintaining adequate portions of fruits and vegetables will aid in gut health and digestion, can help curb sweet cravings (much needed over the holidays) and lessens behavioral issues that may arise post holidays when kids may be expecting treats on a more frequent basis.