With kids at home all the time, they also seem to be eating all the time. Your pantry’s stash of snacks are always dangerously low and the kids just seem to keep eating. We know, we’ve been there too.
While convenient snacks are understandable, you can still make smart choices that would affect your child’s physical and dental health, not just during quarantine but for the rest of their life.
Here are our tips!
Create your own trail mix.
To answer the craving for chips, give your kids a different and healthier alternative for crunchy snacks. Combine nuts, seeds and cacao nibs. Portion into ¼ cup serving sizes.
Avoid dried fruits since these chewy things just stick to teeth. Cacao nibs are delicious and they just melt in the mouth!
For kids with braces, they can try these other snacks here instead.
Fill them up with a smoothie
Fruit smoothies are filling and full of vitamins and minerals. And don’t let the kids read this: you can sneak in healthy greens and they won’t be able to tell. Add some spinach or kale in there.
You shouldn’t need to add sugar. The fruits you use already have plenty! You can use dates for a natural sweetener. If the kids want more sweetness, use honey or xylitol.
Don’t let your child nurse a smoothie. Make them drink it with a meal and finish it fast to avoid prolonged exposure to the sugars in the smoothie.
Bananas and apples are irresistible with chocolate or nut butter
Just slice up a banana or an apple and add a dollop of melted chocolate (70% dark chocolate is healthy and has less sugar) or nut butter. The crispness of most fruits can actually abrade sticky sugary things right off of the enamel surface, also!
Go for eggs
Eggs are full of protein and micronutrients! And they’re incredibly filling. You can do a lot with eggs, too. Hard boil and give it to kids to decorate. Let them have the fun of using an egg slicer too. They can also have fun with eggs and a cake or pancake mix.
Swish with water and brush teeth every day and night
Give the kids a glass of water to rinse their mouth as they snack, and make sure they stick to a healthy routine, not just when it comes to activities and snacking, but especially their washing up and brushing in the mornings and at bedtime.
About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan has specialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968. Our family-friendly and newly renovated office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. Our pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults and are proud to be Premier Providers of Invisalign and Invisalign Teen services. We have the ability to treat all patients with compassion and individuality, including those that may have special needs as we have treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy and customized care options. We pioneered valued hospital affiliations to allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital and St. John Macomb Hospital, when appropriate or necessary, and our specialists are also proud to be on staff at Henry Ford and Beaumont hospitals.
