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 Ask the Expert
for Healthy Advice
Q: My kids are picky eaters. What are some healthy lunches and snacks I can offer that they will eat?
A: Healthy lunches are easier to make than parents may think and require only a small time investment. To make your child’s lunch healthier, consider some of the following:
- Swap white bread with whole-wheat and chips with pretzels or low fat string cheese
- Use lower fat lunch meats, like sliced turkey or chicken, instead of salami or bologna
- Pack a thermos of low-fat milk, water, or a delicious combination of fruit juice and seltzer water, instead of soda
- For dessert provide choices like low-fat pudding, a fruit cup, or a fruit and yogurt parfait. For a special treat baked goods can be included but watch portion sizes and remember that homemade desserts are often better – using a no calorie sweetener means you can control the added sugar and calorie content.
Children should also have one to two snacks a day. The key is making healthy choices and watching portion sizes – an adult-sized handful of pretzels, popcorn or dried fruit, one low-fat granola bar, 5-8 apple slices, or a cup of low-fat yogurt with fruit are good options. Eating a portable, non-messy snack (like the pretzels) during morning recess can help a child with hunger pangs until lunch. After school, kids can enjoy a cup of a vitamin and mineral-enriched, whole grain cereal with low-fat milk, fruit (like grapes, or, when in season, watermelon), a frozen juice bar or low-fat crackers with a thin spread of peanut butter or bean dip.
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More Healthy Advice!
As parents and teachers become increasingly concerned about the health and nutrition of their children, SPLENDA® Brand is committed to helping families take small steps to improve daily dietary habits. The brand encourages all schools and parent group participants to use program resources to create a healthier community overall.
 To help spread the word, SPLENDA® created Healthy Habits, Healthy Kids- a flyer highlighting best practices for raising active, health-conscious kids.
In addition, experts have come up with the a Nutrition Reference Guide for Busy Parents, which includes daily recommended servings of the five food groups and other important information to make healthy eating an integral part of every day.
Make copies of these flyers and share them with school families! |
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  | | “The poster was a big plus when drawing moms into the bake sale. Using the Splenda name and product made it a one-of-a-kind bake sale for this area, which led to our success in raising funds for our school. The only baked goods we didn't sell were the ones we ate before and during the sale! Thank you so very much and I look forward to next year's bake sale!”
Helen Anness
GL Wiley Middle School, Waco, TX |
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