Choose Nutritious Snacks to Boost Your Kids' Oral Health

Providing healthy meals and snacks for children during the summer can be a challenge for many parents. However, there are many simple, kid-friendly snack options available that can help you keep your children full and healthy throughout the summer months. Both nutritional value and potential negative effects of snacks on both teeth and overall health should be considered in order to find snacks that meet your children's taste expectations.

Fortunately for parents, there are many healthy snacks available that most children enjoy. While many children naturally gravitate toward the candy aisle, there are plenty of other snack options. Some common kid-friendly snacks include:

• Popsicles and other frozen fruit desserts as an alternative to ice cream
• Fruits and vegetables, such as apples, bananas, and carrot sticks
• Pretzels, wheat crackers, and nuts
• Peanut butter

Some drinks that are healthy alternatives to soda include:

• Plain, vitamin, or naturally-flavored sparkling water
• Certain fruit juices that are low in sugar
• Milk, which is high in calcium

While there are many healthy snack options available, many of your children's favorites aren't the healthiest choices. Some foods that may harm your children's teeth or overall health include:

• Candy, cookies, and other sugary treats
• Ice cream, which is often high in sugar and fat
• Potato chips, which are high in fat and oils

Some drinks that should be consumed in small amounts or avoided altogether include:

• Soda, which is high in sugar, acids, and chemicals
• Energy drinks, which contain the same unhealthy ingredients as soda, as well as too much caffeine for children
• Other drinks that are high in sugar, such as Kool Aid and many fruit juices