Kids needs lot of vitamins and minerals throughout their day. Nutrition comes in a variety of forms and that includes food for both meals and snacks.

Children who learn to eat healthy meals and snacks will improve their fitness and energy levels, and have what it takes to help them power through their day.

1. Avoid junk food by keeping it out of the house and the pantry. Don’t purchase cookies, candy, chips and other high fat foods that are just empty calories.
2. Include more grain even in meals and snacks. Add whole-grain bread with a spread of peanut butter and drizzle with honey, or include pretzels with cheese sticks, or whole-grain cereals with cherry tomato slices and shaved Parmesan.
3. Always go for raw vegetables with fat-free ranch dressing or hummus (which is included in many Green Monkey lunches too!).  Spread peanut butter on apples, celery and whole-wheat crackers.
4. Breakfast is the first and most important meal of the day. Add whole-wheat toast and scrambled eggs with a side of fresh fruit. Serve boiled eggs or whole-wheat cereal with milk. Avoid sugary, sweet cereals, pastries, and other unhealthy foods.
5. Include a delicious snack or extra treat in lunch that includes fresh fruit. Bananas will keep well if you cut them into slices without peeling them – and kids love pulling off the tiny peel.
6. Make it easy for kids to eat a healthy snack by making it easy for them to find them — and reach them. Cut up vegetables and fruit and store them in plastic containers or bags on a lower shelf of the refrigerator. Use a cookie cutter to make fun shapes out of apple slices, watermelon, canteloupe, or other similar fruits. Stock a lower shelf of the pantry with healthy snacks that you have per-measured in appropriate serving sizes.
7. Provide younger kids with fun bowls and plates that make it fun to eat healthy food. A section-plate for kids offers them a way to separate fat-free Ranch dip from crunchy vegetables for fun dipping.
8. Don’t assume that snack time is just a time for crackers and quick bites. Some kids enjoy scrambled eggs, a turkey and cheese roll-up, or some other substantial snack — balanced meals can be served any time of day.

Make every bite of lunch and snacks count by including nutrition in everything kids eat. And remember to always set a good example by letting them see you eat healthy too!

Eat fresh…Eat healthy….Eat Green Monkey!