January 2017… Everyone can name healthy snacks, says Amy Deahl-Greenlaw, a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) who works with Healthy NewsWorks. And yet when asked what snacks they’d like for a party, students consistently name less-healthy options—such as chips, candy, cookies, and soda.
So Ms. Deahl-Greenlaw encourages the students to redefine snacks as mini-meals. “When we think of breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we think of the five food groups on MyPlate—fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy,” she says. “And that’s where we should start when we think of snacks!”
Try out this recipe for “Southwestern Salsa with low-fat whole grain corn tortilla chips.” It’s easy to make and contains foods from three food groups—vegetables (corn and salsa), protein (black beans), and grains (whole grain tortilla chips).
“And it is delicious!” Ms. Deahl-Greenlaw says. “It is a snack everyone can feel great about—perfect for parties or just any day after school when kids are really hungry.”
