Think snacking is a bad idea? Think again! Eating between meals can be healthy, providing nutritious choices are made. Children are often unable to consume all of the food they need in "three square meals". Nutritious snacks can provide the calories and nutrients needed for children to grow and stay healthy.

Many traditional convenience snacks are high in fat, sugar and salt, and low in fiber. The following tips will help your children get the best nutrition out of their snacks.

• When planning snacks, emphasize foods from the bottom of the Food Guide Pyramid - fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals. Choose small amounts of lean meats and dairy products. Foods from the top of the Food Guide Pyramid (such as cake, candy, and cookies) are high in fat and sugar, and provide calories but few other nutrients. They should only be selected occasionally.
• Involve the children in helping to plan and choose nutritious snacks. Read labels together. Have children help select and try new recipes. Work together to make a list of favorite snacks. Make snacks "mini-meals"; the same types of foods but in smaller amounts. If they are eaten one to two hours before meals, snacks won't spoil appetites.
• When purchasing processed foods, read the food labels to help you make the most nutritious choices.
• Remember that drinks count too. Buy 100% fruit juices instead of fruit drinks. Instead of soda, try mixing fruit juice with a little seltzer water. Make fruit smoothies (milk and fresh fruit mixed in a blender). As a special treat, serve chocolate milk or hot chocolate.
• Bake more from scratch if a kitchen is available. Children love cookies, muffins and breads, so take advantage of the opportunity to sneak in nutritious ingredients like fruits, vegetables, and nuts.

A Few Snack Ideas Kids Can Make Themselves.

• Cut up fresh, raw fruits and vegetables. Dunk them in dips made from peanut butter, salad dressing, cottage cheese or yogurt.
• Make trail mix from assorted cereals, dried fruits, and nuts. Eat it as is, add milk, or sprinkle on yogurt or ice cream.
• Make mini sandwiches from small pita pockets. Use cookie cutters to cut regular sandwiches into fun shapes.
• Make a yogurt sundae with fruit and nuts.

When establishing a meal and snack program keep in mind the new licensing regulations.

Section 19a-79-6a. Health and Safety
(a)(2) A nutritionally adequate meal as recommended by The United States Department of Agriculture, 7 Code of Federal Regulations 226.20, as amended, shall be provided by the child day care center or group day care home, or parent whenever a child remains on the premises for five (5) hours or more.

(A)Children who stay on the premises less than five (5) hours shall have a nutritious snack.
(B)Children who stay on the premises longer than five (5) but less than eight (8) hours shall have one (1) meal and one (1) nutritious snack.
(C)Children who stay on the premises eight (8) hours or more shall have one (1) meal plus two (2) nutritious snacks, or two(2) meals plus one (1) nutritious snack.

Section 19a-79-1a. Definitions. As used in sections 19a-79-1a through 19a-79-12:
(jj) "Meal means the food served and eaten in one sitting containing the four (4) food groups;
(yy) "Snack means a light meal containing two (2) food groups.

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