SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With research emphasizing the strong link between nutrition and academic achievement – and with calories from snacking making up a nearly one-quarter of children’s food intake -- California State PTA and Dairy Council of California partner to offer tips for healthy snacking this back-to-school season:
- Think of snacks as mini meals worth careful planning and consideration. Instead of overloading on empty calories, snacks should be an opportunity to add in nutrient-rich food group foods.
- Incorporate healthy snacks, ones that combine three or more food groups, to improve overall diet quality, one of several factors linked to academic achievement.
- Add underconsumed food groups such as milk and dairy foods, vegetables, fruits and whole grains to kids’ snacks to help raise traditionally low nutrients needed for healthy growth: calcium, vitamin D, potassium and fiber.
- Make healthy snacks the easy, default choice at home. Put fruit bowls on the counter so they’re the first thing children see when they walk into the kitchen. Stock the line-of-sight middle shelf of the refrigerator with individually wrapped cheese, ready-to-eat vegetables, sliced fruit, hummus dip and yogurt.
- Spread protein intake throughout the day, rather than during one meal. Protein-rich snacks like low-fat yogurt, mixed nuts or peanut butter help children utilize protein more efficiently and keep kids feeling full longer.
“Snacks are another opportunity to improve nutrition -- and academic achievement,” said California State PTA President Justine Fischer. “Back-to-school time is a perfect time for parents, kids and teachers to step up their snacking game.”
“Students want snacks to be fun and tasty, while parents and teachers want snacks to be nutritious. This can often create a battle of wills between children and adults,” said Ashley Rosales, RDN, mom and Dairy Council of California's PTA Health Commission Advisory. “Thankfully, there are easy ways to ensure everyone wins when it comes to snacking choices: Dairy Council of California’s website, www.HealthyEating.org, offers tips, tools and resources to make healthy snacking behaviors easier.”
About California State PTA
California State PTA connects families and schools, and has more than 800,000 members throughout the state working on behalf of public schools, children and families, with the motto, "every child, one voice." The PTA is the nation's largest and highest profile volunteer association working to connect families and schools, and improve the education, health and welfare of all children and youth. The PTA also advocates at national, state and local levels for education and family issues. The PTA is nonprofit, nonsectarian and noncommercial. For more information: www.capta.org.
About Dairy Council of California
For nearly a century, Dairy Council of California has partnered with educators, health professionals and communities to elevate the health of children and parents through the pursuit of healthy, balanced eating habits and lifelong values for milk and dairy foods. Funded by California's dairy farm families and local milk processors, Dairy Council of California's science-based nutrition education resources, Mobile Dairy Classroom assemblies, training programs and online tools reach millions in California and throughout the United States. Learn more at HealthyEating.org.
