Allow Snacking

• Children have smaller stomachs and can get hungry often, usually tending to eat smaller amounts frequently. This is perfectly normal and healthy. In fact, this teaches children healthy eating habits. Knowing that snacking is an option, children will learn to eat only until they are no longer full and judge when they eat by when they feel hungry.
  
  

Keep Healthy Choices Close

• When children are hungry, they tend to reach for the closest and fastest option. Encourage healthy snacking by keeping healthy choices close to your child's level, easy for them to reach.
  
  

Keep Things Easy

• Most kids want an easy snack that they can just grab and go. Try keeping fresh cut-up fruits and vegetables in the fridge. The kids can grab what they want without having to deal with washing, peeling and asking mom or dad for help.
  
  

Encourage Dipping

• Most children will agree that anything seems more appealing with a dipping sauce. This is also a great opportunity to get a couple of different food groups within a small snack. For example, you can serve cut-up veggies with some ranch dip or hummus, apple slices with peanut butter or graham crackers with yogurt.
  
  

Keep Things Whole Grain

• Whenever possible, choose the whole grain options. Not only does this provide more nutrients to your child, but it will also keep them fuller for longer and not asking for snacks nearly as often.
  
  

Be Creative

• There are many different and interesting fruits and nuts available in the grocery store. A good idea is to bring your children to the grocery store with you and have them pick out a new fruit or other healthy option to try. This will get them more excited about trying new things and they may even find a new favorite.
  
  

Think Outside the Box

• There are lots of snacking options that one wouldn't normally consider to be snacks. Whole grain cereals can be a great option, especially with some milk or yogurt. A leftover salad from last night's dinner can provide a quick snack option as well.
  
  

Investigate Labels

• There are a lot of boxes labeled with "low fat", "fat-free", and other similar claims. Of course, these are there to grab your attention, but something low in fat isn't necessarily healthy. It's always a good idea to read the labels to make sure that the food you are choosing is as healthy as you think it is.
  
  

Keep Things Fun

• There are a lot of snacking options that can also be entertaining. Fruit and yogurt parfaits look like ice cream sundaes and can be fun to prepare. Fruit kabobs are also different and kids can choose their own combinations of fruit. Mini-pizzas can also be made with whole-wheat pita bread, tomato sauce and your favorite toppings.
  
  

Have On-the-Go Options

• Some kids are quite busy with activities, so it is important to have on-the-go options for them. These could include string cheese, yogurt tubes, granola bars or trail mix.