(NewsUSA)-school year marked the time for busy parents. The children ran out the door to catch the bus, then spent the night in their after-school programs or practices. Rush parents with children between activities and the struggle to balance work and family obligations, many may choose the easiest option available to feed their children-fast food or comfort foods, such as chips and cookies.
But there is no reason that a busy family unable to enjoy healthy meals and snacks through the school year. Weight control information network (win), the information service of the National Institute of Diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases (NIDDK) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), offers the following tips to provide healthy meals no matter how tight your schedule:
* Make sure that children eat breakfast. Without a healthy breakfast, kids don’t have the energy to sit through their morning class. Plus, they will be more likely to eat foods that are bigger, less healthy today. Even if your kids are late, they must be able to eat a slice of whole wheat bread with peanut butter-or berry smoothie as they ran to the bus.
* Allow kids to pack their own lunches. Children are more likely to eat foods they help prepare. Giving children a choice between healthy choices. For example, allowing them to choose the kind of fruit they want in their lunch. Try to include fruits, veges, grain and protein in healthy children You lunch.
* Offer healthy snacks. If children want to chew on after school, make sure that they do not reach for potato chips by stocking your pantry with healthy choices. For snacks healthy, kid-friendly, try dried fruits and nuts; fresh fruit and yogurt; rice cakes, whole grain crackers or whole grain bread served with low fat cheese, peanut butter, almond butter or soynut butter; pretzels or appear in air popcorn; homemade fruit smoothie made with fresh or frozen fruits and low-fat milk, soy milk or rice, or yogurt; and whole grain cereals.