Chapter 4 Lesson 3: Smart Snacking

When your body is growing during adolescence, it is very common to be hungry a lot of the time.  Many teens are tempted to just grab some fast food to satisfy their hunger, but this can cause more problems than it solves.  Many fast foods have a lot of fat, sugar, and salt, and do not provide the sustained energy your body needs.  On the Web site below, you will learn the ABCs of healthy snacking along with some simple recipes for healthy snacks.

Link to explore: Virtua Health: http://www.virtua.org/page.cfm?id=healthsavvy_display&savvyID=181

Directions

• Start at the Virtua Health Web site.
• Read through the page on smart snacking.
• Take notes as you read. 
• When you are done reading, answer the questions below.
• Finally, using the information from the link, make a list of snacks you would like to make and carry with you during the day.

Questions

1. Why is it a good idea to eat small, healthy snacks during the day?

2. What are the best healthy foods for keeping your energy level high?

3. How often should a teen snack when full meals are not available?

4. Why should teens be careful to read the contents of snack foods even if the labels say things like “all natural,” or “pure?”

5. What are three examples of healthy snacks?

Answers

1. Eating small, nutritious snacks throughout the day can keep your energy level high and your mind alert, without taking up a lot of your time.

2. The best foods for keeping your energy level high are ones that contain complex carbohydrates such as bagels, graham crackers or unsweetened cereal. Foods that contain protein such as low-fat yogurt and skim milk are also good.

3. Snacking every three to four hours will help keep you going when full meals are not available.

4. You should always check the ingredient label on snacks because even though a label may say the snack is all natural or pure, that does not necessarily mean it is nutritious.

5. Some examples of healthy and tasty snacks are:
1. Banana ice cream
2. Air-popped popcorn
3. Mini pizzas
4. Healthy popsicles made with 100% juice
5. Low-fat pita or hummas
6. Low fat pretzels
7. Salsa
8. Angel food cake
9. Baked tortilla chips

Below are some additional resources on healthy snacking.  It might be fun to have students do some research on snacks and their contents and then bring in their favorite ones to share.

1. Backpack Snacks: http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/backpack.html
2. Healthy Snacks: http://www.ehealth4teens.org/activity/snacks.php
3. Food on the Run: http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/agesandstages/teens/foodonrunp/
4. Recipes: http://www.recipesource.com/misc/kids/indexall.html

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