Back to School Snacks

Author: Dr. Sarah Mischo, DMD

It’s that time of year again! New shoes and backpacks are ready to go for the first day of school. There is a lot of anticipation and excitement for what the coming year will bring.

Back to school also means having to pack lunches and snacks. As busy parents, we often grab the snacks that will make life on the go easier for everyone. There are so many different prepackaged snacks on the market today that we can provide for our children, but the next time you are at the grocery store I encourage you to take a quick look at the back of the package and see how much added sugar the product has. The American Heart Association recommends limiting consumption of added sugars to less than six percent of calories for children and adolescents (this is less than 25 grams of sugar per day which is approximately six teaspoons). For comparison, a 12 oz can of regular soda contains approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar and provides zero nutritional benefits. Most medical and dental

organizations recommend that children under the age of two should consume no added sugar at all.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has put out some basic recommendations for healthy snacks at school. The snack should:

●  Contain at least 50% or more of whole grain by weight

●  Have a fruit, vegetable, dairy or protein product listed as the first ingredient

●  Be a combination of food that contains at least 1⁄4 cup of fruit or vegetables

The next time you go to grab a snack consider some of these healthy snack ideas that also have added teeth benefits:

●  Carrots, apples, or celery: the extra crunch these snacks have also give the teeth an extra brush

●  Cheese and yogurt: these snacks are rich in calcium and phosphorus which can help repair tooth enamel. When picking out a yogurt make sure you choose one that has zero added sugar

●  Nuts and Seeds: almonds, cashews,etc can protect your teeth and replenish the minerals depleted by acids. These are low in sugar but high in good fats!

We hope you have a wonderful start to the new school year, and don’t forget to schedule your next dental appointment so your teeth can be ready for the new school year too!