Summer snack attack
Healthy snacks fill — and shut — them up By Paul Clark
WNC Parent contributor
It’s the whine that makes parents long for the beginning of school — “Mom, I’m hungry and there’s nothing to eat!” Often the kids are bored, and a little nudge toward an activity or friend will suffice. But often kids are hungry because they’re bored with the snacks at home. Just be careful what you offer, nutritionists advise. “We’re finding a predisposition toward obesity occurs when a child is snacking on refined sugars all the time,” said Phil Mohr, a nutritionist with the
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WIC program at Buncombe County Health and Human Services. “So, getting them started early with good eating is a way to address the problem.” “If you’re eating a bunch of junky, processed food, you kind of feel like sitting around and doing nothing,” said Amy Burle, a Candler mother of three. “But if you’re eating what’s good for you, you feel like going out and doing things.” The best way to ensure good nutrition is to serve well-rounded, substantial meals that leave kids satisfied until the next meal, said Christine Banman, a registered dietitian. “That increases the likelihood they’ll eat their vegetables
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and explore new options.” But kids get hungry at the most inconvenient times. And as any parent knows, keeping them in snacks is expensive. “Things like packaged trail mix and