Guest Author - Paula Petrie

Moms know a bit about stress. But, how to deal with stress is a multi-faceted machine. One friend of mine claims that when her stress level gets high she “eats it away.” Did you ever notice how cud-chewing animals are the calmest of the mammal species? Maybe there is something to a soothing chew. Gum chewing, for example, is linked to good digestion and aids cavity prevention as a bonus!

Chewing relatively healthy eats, and being active to keep your metabolism burning effectively are vital to your overall health and dealing with high or increased stress. Stressing the body with lack of exercise or struggling to digest unhealthy food, only adds to the stress of the mind.

We are faced with the new phenomenon of increased stress levels in our children. And, statistics are pointing to a sharp rise in childhood obesity. Since, the B family of vitamins found in fresh vegetables, are known stress fighters, healthy snacking may be more important than ever. There will always be hype around which food groups to leave in and which foods to leave out, but instinct will guide you to what will work for your family.

Points to consider are that sugar, salt, and trans fat act like addictive substances and should be used considerately. The less exposure small children have to these types of foods early on, the less inclined they are to crave them later. The habit of brushing your teeth after a snack will leave you less inclined to go for seconds. Taking the time and care to prepare tasty meals seems to satisfy hunger better than thoughtlessly grabbing fillers or eating overcooked, poorly prepared food. You are “filled” and calmed with less.

Experimenting with a variety of cuisines will help you build a library of family favorites. Exposing kids to a lot of healthy choices and keeping fat and sugar based treats to a minimum well benefit your family their entire lifetime.

Fun and Healthy snacks

Sometimes kids are more apt to snack on fruit if it is chopped and easy to munch on. Chopped vegetables or fruit slices with a low-fat dressing, cheese dip, yogurt, or guacamole makes a great pit stop.

Wheat crackers with cheese and grapes or a variety of fruit slices make great finger foods.

Puddings and Jell-O are fun, make ahead treats, that are easy to dress up with fruit.

Switch to wheat breads and baked, or rice, chip snacks. They are more filling and a whole lot healthier.

Nuts and seeds are great stress fighters. Trail mix and granola bars make good snack foods.

Bruschetta or any combination of veggies or fruit, mixed with herbs and sauces add healthful zest to crackers, toast, or noodles. Add tuna or salmon for the benefits of omega oil.

Don’t forget the importance of staying hydrated by drinking lots of water. Filling up on the required daily water intake cuts down on food cravings and aids the stress fighting abilities of a good nights sleep. Adding a few drops of berry syrup or a slice of lemon will add variety and flavor. Refill small, flavored water bottles and keep them in the fridge for easy access.

Real fruit freezes are a great way to help keep kids hydrated in the summer or on warm days.

Blender drinks made with milk, juice, and real fruit are both filling and very healthy. Fun glasses and interesting straws make ordinary snack time a relaxing event.