Try to plan after-school snacks, just as you would regular meals. Avoid
just letting your grade schooler graze in the kitchen, the results will
be devastating as they will tend to go for the sugary snacks that are
high in calories. Way too many American kids are overweight because
they don't get enough activity, and they eat too many fatty, sugary
foods. Consider keeping a variety of fruits on hand, as well as whole
grain snacks such as bagels or muffins.
Protein foods such as cheese,
yogurt, or peanut butter are also good snacks. Keep fat and sugar to a
minimum.
Grade schoolers like to eat, and they do so frequently, but they often
have an aversion to vegetables. This can be overcome. Sometimes the
aversion is simply because of poor preparation. Cooking vegetables into
mush is enough to turn anyone away from them. Surprising as it may
seem, fresh vegetables are often a great snack that kids enjoy. Celery
pieces with peanut butter is an excellent example. When you go to the
market, take your grade schooler with you and let them help you pick
out vegetables. Better yet, if you have a garden, let them help grow
and pick them. Children love to be able to eat something they grew
themselves!
Calcium is important in your grade schooler's diet, and the USDA
recommends two or three servings of dairy products a day. Substituting
soft drinks for milk and other healthy drinks at every meal is a
dangerous practice. Children with an inadequate intake of calcium have
been shown to be shorter, and have smaller bones and lower bone density
than children who consumed the USDA requirement every day.
Reader Comments 
Related Links