Well-chosen snacks can be especially important to children, whose small stomachs may prevent them from eating enough food to fuel their high energy level and growth. Without a snack, a child can easily run out of fuel, said Kathy Walsten, K-State Research and Extension nutrition educator who works with the Family Nutrition Program in the state.
Children usually can benefit from two to three snacks a day.
A child ' s age and activity level also can influence the number of snacks they need to maintain their energy level. Younger children also may need a bedtime snack. It ' s important to remember to plan snacks to supplement meals rather than replace them, said Walsten, who also reminds parents not to offer snacks too close to mealtime. Cooking extras like hard cooked eggs, which children like to crack and peel, can serve as a snack. Children like single-serving fruits and vegetables and other snacks that are ready to eat, like carrot and celery sticks.