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Katie Serbinski, M.S., R.D., is a registered dietitian and millennial mom, blogging about healthy recipes, child and mom nutrition, and motherhood.

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Home » Nutrition » How to Handle After-School Snacking

How to Handle After-School Snacking

Sep 15, 2016 2 Comments

With the start of the school year back in full swing, a lot of attention is being paid towards school lunch. I find there’s one [mini] meal of the school day that often gets overlooked: the after-school snack. Learn some simple tips to ensuring your child makes the most of their after-school snacking. 

Learn the basics of after-school snacking with the help of nutritious, kid-friendly Chobani Kids yogurt tubes and pouches.
Thank you to Chobani for sponsoring this post and providing my boys with their favorite snack: YOGURT!

Despite the fact that my kids aren’t of grade-school age just yet, I consider myself the aficionado of snacking [for Moms and kids]. I have toddlers, and toddlers snack like there’s no tomorrow! As a registered dietitian and mom who spends the better part of my days in the kitchen, I’ve pretty much embraced the snacking culture in this household. When it comes to feeding my kids, I always try to make every food choice count and snack time is no exception. Here are a few of the simple guidelines I follow to ensure that my kids have the perfect afternoon [or after-school] snack to help them power through their day.

Learn the basics of after-school snacking with the help of nutritious, kid-friendly Chobani Kids yogurt tubes and pouches.

Think of snacks as mini meals, and aim to include 1-2 food groups each time your child eats. In a world where most kids end the school day and head off to soccer practice or music lessons, make snacks count by using foods with filling nutrients like protein. Chobani’s Kids yogurt line contains 2X more protein than the leading kids’ yogurt brand, making it an essential component for an energy packed afternoon snack. Knowing that these kid-friendly tubes and pouches are made with natural, non-GMO, wholesome ingredients makes me feel good about that snack-a-tizer they often want before dinner.

Learn the basics of after-school snacking with the help of nutritious, kid-friendly Chobani Kids yogurt tubes and pouches.
Do you kids like “ants on a log”? Skip the peanut butter and try it with yogurt!

Have it all laid out beforehand. When kids come home to a snack that is already prepared, it can help them make better food choices. This technique will minimize the likelihood of them reaching for something less nutritious from the pantry or fridge on their own. This also helps you ensure they are consuming the necessary nutrients during their day. Another benefit of being actively involved during snack time is being able to promote the importance of portion sizes. Portioning out their snacks for them will help them visually understand the amount of food they need to feel satisfied, but not stuffed.

Learn the basics of after-school snacking with the help of nutritious, kid-friendly Chobani Kids yogurt tubes and pouches.
These little cups help to portion the mix-in’s we snack on with the yogurt!

Keep healthy pre-packaged snacks on hand. This is where Chobani Kids tubes and pouches play a pivotal role in my family’s snack time routine. They’re easy for kids to maneuver in the car on the way home from school or on the way to afternoon activities without any prep work required from mom or dad. Having these and other healthy pre-packaged snacks around the house is also useful to quickly pacify their sometimes random hunger spurts that need to be satisfied ASAP.

Kids hungry after school? Fill their tummies with @Chobani Kids yogurt so they don't spoil their dinner! Click To Tweet
Learn the basics of after-school snacking with the help of nutritious, kid-friendly Chobani Kids yogurt tubes and pouches.
His and hers. Or mine and their snack!

Make a list of favorites. Getting kids to skip the usual empty-calorie snacks is simple: You just need a stash of healthy alternatives they actually like! I recently created a list of 25 healthy snacks for kids that contains many of my kids favorite snacks, which I use to reference before grocery shopping. Having this list of what they like helps me ensure the house is stocked with ingredients to build a healthy snack.

Learn the basics of after-school snacking with the help of nutritious, kid-friendly Chobani Kids yogurt tubes and pouches.
Fresh or dried fruit is on our snacking list too!

Whether you’re on the go or at home, try to make snack time a priority. It’s a great time to promote healthy eating habits and supply your kids with valuable nutrients that their growing bodies need, so try and make each choice count!

Disclosure:  I am proud to partner with Chobani to bring you healthy recipes that are both kid tested and parent approved.  Because of these great partnerships I am able to share delicious and nutritious family-friendly recipes. As always all opinion and ideas are 100% my own. 

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Comments

  1. Sonali- The Foodie Physician says

    September 15, 2016 at 10:33 am

    Great post Katie! We’re big fans of all of these Chobani products. Sienna eats breakfast before school around 9a but then her school lunch time is at 11:30. So she really hasn’t been eating much out of her lunch box. But then when we pick her up at 3:30 she’s hungry and tends to eat her “lunch” then. Does this count as after-school snacking? LOL 🙂

    Reply
  2. Kathryn says

    September 15, 2016 at 2:15 pm

    Oh my gosh love this post so much! Snack-A-Licious!

    Reply

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Katie Serbinski at Mom to Mom Nutrition

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Hi, I’m Katie! Registered Dietitian, Mom, and Mealtime Negotiator. I’m on a mission to make mealtime happier, healthier, and easier with small children, despite what my 4 picky eaters have me believing. From family-friendly recipes to confessions about my unfiltered motherhood moments, I hope you grab a seat at my kitchen table!
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