Tip of the Month

Summertime Snacking Doesn’t Have to Be a Vacation from Good Nutrition

It’s time to enjoy those lazy days of summer - long, sunshine-filled days with an “I’m on vacation” mentality.

However, if you think your family has taken a too-long vacation from good nutrition, try these delicious and satisfying snacking tips. Milk, cheese and yogurt make great snacks and provide calcium to help build stronger bones plus protein to keep hunger at bay until the next meal.

• Make it easy to snack on nutrient-rich foods by designating a snack drawer or shelf in your refrigerator, preferably at the kids’ eye level. Stock the shelf with lowfat dairy foods, seasonal fruits and ready-to-eat veggies. Round up small containers of pudding, drinkable yogurt and string cheese. Try putting them in a plastic container so they don’t get lost in the back of the fridge.
• Have grab-n-go choices handy when you’re heading to the pool or going home from work. Try string cheese or flavored yogurts. Pair whole grain crackers with reduced-fat cheese or try a milk-and-animal crackers combo.
• Whether you’re on the road or running errands, order white or flavored milk when you pull up to the drive-thru. For a change, try a side of flavored yogurt or a fruit and yogurt parfait.
• When you hit a mid-afternoon slump, indulge in a tall glass of lowfat chocolate milk instead of a candy bar. 
• Enjoy a bowl of cereal with milk and sliced fruit the next time you get the munchies.
• Blend equal parts of milk or yogurt with fresh or frozen fruit for a summertime smoothie.