For National Snack Month, Focus on Healthy Options

By Arriana Patraw
Creating Healthy Schools and Communities Program Manager

When you hear the word “snack,” do you think of something sweet or salty? During National Snack Month, it is a great time to rethink what snacks look like and how they support our health — especially for kids and teens.

According to the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, almost a quarter of children’s daily calories may come from snacks! The Heart Network’s Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC) program, funded by the New York State Department of Health, aims to increase the availability of healthy foods — including snack foods — in schools, early childhood education, and throughout the community. Through our work with schools, food pantries, college worksites and other local community sites, we have been able to expand access to healthier choices across Franklin County.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that three in five Americans ages two and older consume more added sugars than recommended. The CDC recommends keeping added sugars to less than 10 percent of total daily calories. To put this into perspective, for someone consuming 2,000 calories per day, no more than 200 calories should come from added sugars, which is about 12 teaspoons of sugar.

Swapping out less nutritious snacks for healthier options is a great first step toward better health. Some easy healthy swaps include:

• Fruit instead of candy — fresh, frozen, or dried without added sugar
• Nuts or seeds instead of chips — choose unsalted when possible
• Vegetable sticks with hummus instead of crackers with dip
• Air-popped popcorn instead of buttery snack mixes
• Yogurt with fruit instead of sugary desserts

Our CHSC work is focused on ensuring healthier options are available whether you are getting food at school, from a food pantry or in the workplace. This National Snack Month, take a moment to review menus and pause before choosing your snacks. There’s likely a healthier option that’s just as satisfying and delicious!