Healthy school snack ideas
I need healthy school snack ideas for my kids. My five year old keeps getting cavities in his back molars which are likely attributed to the crackers we put in his snack box for school (per his dentist). He typically gets crackers, fruit and raisins for snack. Does any have suggestions for snacks that won't rot his teeth? We've tried carrot sticks and those came home untouched. He loves nuts but the school is nut-free.
Oct 11, 2018
Parent Replies
Raisins are supposedly worse for teeth than chocolate, because they are sticky. So I would drop the raisins. Also if you are giving him any kind of fruit juice - get rid of that as well. And no fruit roll-ups! Does he like any kind of seeds, like roasted pumpkin seeds? Or kale chips? Does the school allow gum? Chewing a stick of sugar free gum after you eat can help remove food residue.
Cheese is great for your dental hygeine, my kid's dentist always recommends it as a good snack. How about a special bento-type box with cheese, snap peas, ranch, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, avocado, apples and a hard boiled egg?
I've always given my kids "teeth-healthy" snacks and for 13 years, neither one has ever had a cavity. And its not their genetic background, since my husband and I have sadly had way too many cavities. We avoid crackers and dried fruit entirely for snacks or anything else that is kind of sticky on the teeth after eating. Here are some of the things I might give them: unsweetened yoghurt mixed with chopped up fruit, popcorn, veggies like pepper strips, sliced cucumber, whole okra, cherry tomatoes, roasted little potatoes, etc. Exceptions to the no-sticky-foods would be things like seeds (pumpkin both shelled and unshelled,) sunflower seeds, and coconut flakes.
Kids aren't always excited by a bowl full of veggies, so figure out ways your kid will eat them. For instance - a pinch of flavored salt on cucumbers, smear a bit of cream cheese on pepper strips, slice the carrots thinly on the diagonal and make sure the carrots are naturally sweet tasting, boil broccoli florets in salted water. Include something to dip the veggies in - kids love dipping! This could be hummus, bean dip, or something creamy.