.Good Times With Snacks
Source of Recipe
National Network for Child Care
WHAT ARE SNACKS AND WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?
A snack is a refreshment eaten between meals. It is smaller than a meal and can be something to eat, something to drink, or both. Because young children cannot eat a lot at one time, they need one or more snacks throughout the day.
Snacks are important because they give children energy. Boys and girls grow fast and they use a lot of energy when they run and play. Using energy makes children hungry. It is hard for them to wait until mealtime. Snack times help keep children from becoming overly-tired and grumpy. They also help children slow down and rest. That is why some families have snacks just before going to bed.
AGES AND STAGES
Most babies do not eat snacks. Infants need to be fed when they are hungry. They should have foods they are used to eating such as milk, formula, or prepared baby food.
Children of all ages eat similar foods. They do, however, eat different amounts and at different times. Toddlers and preschoolers eat a snack in the middle of the morning and again in the afternoon. Parents often report that their school-age children dash to the refrigerator as soon as they get home from school!
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Have you ever heard a mother or father say to a child, "your eyes are bigger than your stomach!" when they have not been able to finish eating the food on their plate? This often happens to young children because everything looks so good to them! You can help them avoid overeating by serving limited amounts of food to each child at snack time. You can give them "seconds," if they are still hungry and ask for more. Remember, though, that large snacks can ruin a child's appetite and cause an unpleasant mealtime later in the day. It is wise to have an hour of "no eating" before each meal.
Young children like foods that are easy to eat. Finger foods are great snacks for any age group and are especially good for toddlers and preschoolers. Carrot sticks, cheese chunks, sliced fruit, and sandwich squares all fit nicely into a child's hand. If children have small appetites, serve foods that make them feel less full. For example, they can snack on fruit instead of milk and cookies, or drink juice instead of a milkshake.
Know the difference between nutritious and non-nutritious snacks. Growing children need foods rich in vitamins and minerals to give them energy and keep their bodies healthy. Try to serve a variety of foods and avoid sweets. If children fill their stomachs with non-nutritious snacks like potato chips, candy, and soda pop, there will not be room for healthier foods. If children want something sweet, try serving carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. If they want something salty, serve peanut butter spread on a celery stick. (Avoid giving nuts to babies. Nuts can easily get caught in their throats and cause them to choke.)
As a caregiver, you may not shop for snack foods, but you will have control over what children choose to eat and when they eat it. Keep in mind that constant nibbling is not good. Nibbling often allows children to eat too much of the wrong things and can be bad for their teeth. If you take care of the same children on a daily basis, it is a good idea for you to set a regular time for snacks. Have snacktime at about the same time every day. Children like routines and like to know when to expect certain activities to take place. If children seem to demand snacks all day, tell the parents about it, and try to find out what they are eating at mealtime. They may be filling up on snacks and then are too full to eat meat, bread, or vegetables during lunch or dinner.
Think of other reasons children may have for asking for so many snacks. Are they bored or lonesome? Do they really want attention rather than food? Take time to go for a walk or read a story with them. Does their need for food seem to lessen as they get more involved in activities with other people?
Snack time is a time to take advantage of a break in playing so you can laugh, talk, and be together with the children you are caring for. Snack time does not have to be long - 10 minutes will do - but it should be long enough to provide true relaxation for the children. Snack time also should be a safe time. Plastic dishes and glasses can prevent accidents. Sitting down while eating instead of "eating on the run" can help prevent choking and spills.
Snack time is a time to have fun. It can be a picnic outside, a tea party with dolls and stuffed animals, or lunch on a "cardboard box and pillows train."
However you and the children decide to organize the snack time, you will have to help them end one activity (like outdoor play or naptime) and begin another (snack time). Ending one activity and beginning another is called a transition. Transitions can be hard for children and caregivers, and sometimes you need special activities to help make transitions go smoothly. You will find a longer explanation and some suggested activities for transitions in *Good Times at Mealtime*, *Good Times at Bathtime*, and *Good Times at Bedtime*.
Two of the most helpful activities that you, as a caregiver, can do during snack time follow below. If you follow these suggestions, snack time can be a good time for everyone involved.
1. Let children help you prepare snacks. They like to do this because it makes them feel important and capable. Preparing food also helps children learn to follow instructions, measure amounts of ingredients and work with others. Helping you will help them learn about themselves, too, as they discover what they do well and what they need to practice. Let children help you whenever possible to make them feel good about themselves. It also will make them more eager to take time out from playing to eat because they had a part in preparing the food.
(Note: Think before you let any child use a sharp knife. Age and coordination are important factors to consider. If children insist on helping you cut, let them use table knives or plastic knives.)
2. Plan your snacks ahead of time. Talk to parents about what they have available for snacks before you arrive at their home. If they have not planned a snack time, you might make a suggestion or offer to bring a snack with you.
LEARN BY DOING
1. Ask parents about their family eating habits, so that you, as a caregiver, will be aware of any special rules or habits they may have. Be sure to find out if the children have any allergies to certain foods or if there are foods they cannot eat.
2. Go to a grocery store and look over the shelves. Learn about some foods you have never tasted before. Look at the prices of these snacks. Are they expensive? Are they nutritious? Do they look good to eat? Pick out two or three new ones to try.
3. Make a card file of recipes for snack food combinations like Chex party mix and granola mix. (Recipes can be found in some of the resources listed at the end of this section.)
4. List your five favorite snack foods. How do these foods add to your health, body, and pleasure? Ask yourself if these are nutritious snacks. Are there others that you could enjoy as much that would have more food value?
5. Visit a preschool or day care center and observe snack time. Write down the food and drinks that are served, the size of the serving, and the children's acceptance of the snack. Did the children make any comments about the food? Did what you observed match what you have learned in this book?
6. Plan five snacks and serve them to children. Write a short report about why you chose these snacks (age of children, nutritional value, etc.), how snack time began and ended, and how the children related to your plan.
7. Make a display of foods, utensils, special clothing (aprons, hot pads), dishes, and information (recipes, cookbooks) necessary to prepare a snack. Point out which of these items children could use in order to help you.
8. Plan to bake a snack early in the day, and eat it in the afternoon. Let the children help you measure ingredients, mix, and bake. Be sure to get permission from their parents.
9. Make peanut butter for a snack. Let the children help you. What you
need:
corn oil
salt
spoon
bread or celery small plate
blender
bowl
spreader
Talk about your favorite ways of eating peanut butter.
Have the children remove the peanuts from the shells; remove the brown skins. Look at shell size, shape, and texture. Compare the shell with the peanut. What part of the plant is the peanut?
Put about 1 1/2 tablespoons of oil in the blender. Gradually add about 1 cup of peanuts and sprinkle lightly with salt. Watch the changes as the peanuts are crushed and blended into a smooth texture.
Serve on bread or stuff the peanut butter into celery ribs.
If a blender is not available, you may use a food grinder. The texture of the peanut butter will be coarse and crunchy.
Other things to think about:
Make peanut butter cookies. What kind of fruit tastes good with peanut butter? Try adding sliced bananas, drained crushed pineapple, raisins, or chopped apple to a peanut butter sandwich.
What vegetables do you like with peanut butter? A lettuce leaf or shredded lettuce and shredded carrots in a peanut butter sandwich are the favorites of some children.
|
|
member logon
