Colebrook Consolidated School

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Healthy Snacks

Have you noticed that when you are at school, you tend to get hungry about mid-morning?  You ate breakfast, but after you've done some school work or gone to gym class, your stomach is rumbling again.  That is because your body has used up the energy from your breakfast, and now it needs more fuel to keep going.

Kids need to refuel their bodies many times throughout the day.  They have to because they need a ton of energy for all the things they do.  Everything, from walking, carrying their backpacks, or just sitting in class, requires energy.  Kids have small stomachs.  That means they have to refill them often.  This is why snacking is important.  Snacks help keep your body from getting too tired and hungry.  Eating snacks keeps your brain and body moving.

If you think snacking means eating potato chips and cookies, you are not alone.  However, junk food is not really a good choice for snacks.  It is really important to eat healthy foods.  Healthy snacks are packed with nutrients that your body needs to grow strong and stay well.  Proper nutrition keeps your body feeling good and your brain thinking sharp.  That's why it's important to pick a better snack.  It's easy to do and you'll feel a whole lot better if you do.  For example, instead of eating some cookies (which are high in fat and calories), consider having graham crackers instead. If you want something crunchy, instead of reaching for potato chips, try having an apple or some carrot sticks.  Fruits and vegetables make excellent snacks.

This doesn't mean that you shouldn't ever have a sweet or salty snack that you love.  You should just eat them every so often, and not too much at once.  Just remember that most of your snacks should be healthy ones, not junk ones!  Here are some healthy snack ideas that you can try.

                                         Pretzels
                                         Low fat cheese and crackers
                                         Yogurt
                                         Graham crackers
                                         Pudding
                                         Fresh fruit and vegetables
                                         Raisins
                                         Hard cooked eggs
                                         Granola bars
                           Light microwave popcorn or air-popped popcorn

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