Young children can’t go long periods of time without getting hungry. This is because their stomachs are small. Another reason is their stomach can’t hold much food. Snacks can help a child get through the day. Foods for snacks should include a variety of nutritious foods that help give important nutrients to your child. In today’s world it is very easy to have a poor diet because of all the choices we have. Wise food choices requires an understanding of nutrition facts. A snack choice should be based on more than a food’s taste or appearance. Calories and nutrition in a food item should be an important consideration when choosing a snack. Here are some characteristics to consider when choosing snacks: •Determine what nutrition is found in the food item. A nutritious snack should supply nutrients like vitamins, calcium and iron. Using the nutrition facts section of the label can be helpful in determining what nutrients are in the food. •Plan the snacks around meal schedules. Snacks too close to a meal can interfere with the appetite for a meal. Snacking and skipping meals are problems of many youngsters today. •Consider the number of calories a snack provides in the daily total. Snack foods should not be high in sugar or fat. Children enjoy sweet foods but too much sugar can cause cavities in their teeth. Too many foods high in sugar and fat can help cause children to become overweight. Try to set limits on the amount of sweet and fatty foods eaten. •Make the snack easy to obtain. Place them on an easy-to-reach shelf in the refrigerator or in the pantry. •Choose foods that appeal in taste and appearance. If the snack does not look good, it is likely not to be eaten. Children will copy their parents and family. Be careful with words and facial expressions. Here are some simple, nutritious snacks to make: • Celery sticks filled with peanut butter and topped with raisins. •Yogurt and a little fruit such as pineapple.• Cut bread into shapes with cookie cutters and spread with favorite toppings (meat, cheese, peanut butter, etc.) • apple slices and peanut butter.Young children can’t go long periods of time without getting hungry. This is because their stomachs are small. Another reason is their stomach can’t hold much food. Snacks can help a child get through the day. Foods for snacks should include a variety of nutritious foods that help give important nutrients to your child. In today’s world it is very easy to have a poor diet because of all the choices we have. Wise food choices requires an understanding of nutrition facts. A snack choice should be based on more than a food’s taste or appearance. Calories and nutrition in a food item should be an important consideration when choosing a snack. Here are some characteristics to consider when choosing snacks: •Determine what nutrition is found in the food item. A nutritious snack should supply nutrients like vitamins, calcium and iron. Using the nutrition facts section of the label can be helpful in determining what nutrients are in the food. •Plan the snacks around meal schedules. Snacks too close to a meal can interfere with the appetite for a meal. Snacking and skipping meals are problems of many youngsters today. •Consider the number of calories a snack provides in the daily total. Snack foods should not be high in sugar or fat. Children enjoy sweet foods but too much sugar can cause cavities in their teeth. Too many foods high in sugar and fat can help cause children to become overweight. Try to set limits on the amount of sweet and fatty foods eaten. •Make the snack easy to obtain. Place them on an easy-to-reach shelf in the refrigerator or in the pantry. •Choose foods that appeal in taste and appearance. If the snack does not look good, it is likely not to be eaten. Children will copy their parents and family. Be careful with words and facial expressions. Here are some simple, nutritious snacks to make: • Celery sticks filled with peanut butter and topped with raisins. •Yogurt and a little fruit such as pineapple.• Cut bread into shapes with cookie cutters and spread with favorite toppings (meat, cheese, peanut butter, etc.) • apple slices and peanut butter.