Nutritious After-School Snacks = Health + Energy

Nutritious After-School Snacks = Health + Energy

Dietitians are urging parents to serve their children after-school snacks consisting of healthy staples that are typically unable to be taken to school, to make up for lost nutrients.

The Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA), the peak body for dietitians, says Australian data suggests children are not meeting their quota for certain vitamins and minerals, putting their growth and development at risk – but wise choices after school can help combat this shortfall.

DAA Spokesperson and mum of three Natasha Murray said: -Whether provided upon pick up en route to sport or quickly available at home as soon as school is over, after-school snacks offer an opportunity to provide foods that pack a nutrient punch.'

According to the Australian Dietary Guidelines, children need to eat more vegetables, fruit, wholegrain cereals and low-fat milk, yoghurt and cheese.

-Fuelling growing bodies can be a challenge at the best of times, let alone with the complexity added by finding foods suitable for school.

-Most parents will be all too familiar with fruit squashed at the bottom of bags, yoghurt needing to be kept cool, and nuts not being allowed at school (despite being a great source of fibre, energy, good fats, vitamins and minerals). So at home, get creative with the very foods that prove difficult to pack into a lunchbox,' said Ms Murray, an Accredited Practising Dietitian.

With school about to resume for the year, Ms Murray suggests refuelling brains and bodies after a day of learning and activity, with some of these after-school snacks:

Peanut butter sandwich, using wholegrain bread, and a banana

Low-fat yoghurt or low-fat cheese sticks with your child's favourite seasonal fruit

Vegetable sticks and wholegrain crackers with hummus, salsa or tzatziki

Trail mix with sultanas, nuts and sunflower or pumpkin seeds

Fruit smoothie combining low-fat yoghurt, low-fat milk and seasonal fruit

Savoury muffin made with wholemeal flour and vegetables, such as grated carrot and zucchini or corn

Wholegrain crackers with low-fat cheese.

-Getting enough of the right nutrients is critical for learning, normal growth and development and for daily activities such as walking between classes or playing at lunch and recess. Sport and hobbies require additional energy and nutrients on top of this,' said Ms Murray.

She said planning meals, including snacks, before the weekly shop helps make sure the right foods are on hand.

For individual nutrition advice for children and adolescents, taking into account growth and development as well as any extracurricular activities, DAA recommends seeking the advice of an Accredited Practising Dietitian.