Since children get a good chunk of their calories and nutrition from between-meal noshing, supply them with healthy protein snacks. Protein is important for kids' growth and it's also filling, so its calories are doing double-duty. One word of warning: Watch out for fat and salt content. Both are fine for most kids, in small amounts.
Try some of these healthy protein snack choices:
- low-fat cheese (sticks, cubes, slices, rounds)
- sliced turkey, ham, or roast beef
- turkey sausage, meatballs, or hot dogs
- jerky, salami, or pepperoni (look for turkey versions, which are lower in fat)
- hard-boiled eggs
- nuts
- peanut butter and other nut butters
- cream cheese
- hummus or other bean dips
- yogurt (mix plain with fruit and/or a bit of honey, or look for low-sugar flavored versions)
- tofu
- edamame (whole soybeans)
- cottage cheese
- roasted chickpeas
- Crackers or chips fortified with protein
