Healthy Kids 2025 Tip
The Facts on Snacks
Currently, Tennessee ranks as one of the worst states nationally for children’s health. Metro Government has joined with Vanderbilt University and the State of Tennessee on the Healthy Kids 2025 initiative to raise awareness about children’s health, focusing on injury prevention, fitness and nutrition, early education, and parent connections. Take a minute to take this snack quiz and find out the facts on snacks. True or False: Snacking will ruin a child’s dinner False –Snacking itself isn’t unhealthy; it’s when children snack, what they snack on and how much he or she eats that may affect a child’s appetite for dinner. True or False: Healthy snacks give energy and needed nutrients True—Children play hard; to keep them going between meals, offer vitamin-enriched, low-fat snacks like string cheese or fresh fruit. True or False: All fruit juices are good for children False—While fruit juice is better than soda, read the label carefully. Some juices are only 10% fruit juice and have lots of sweeteners. Offer 100% fruit juice or milk or water. True or False: Children should never eat cookies, candy or fast foods. False—There’s nothing wrong in offering these foods as a “once in a while treat,” but they should not be offered on a regular basis. For more information about Healthy Kids 2025, visit http://www.nashville.gov/mocy/healthy_kids_2025.htm or call Mary Kate Mouser at 936-5317.