This is a sponsored post written in partnership with Stonyfield® Organic YoKids® yogurt
Unfortunately my kids (especially my 12 year old) has a weakness… it’s called SUGAR and he’ll gladly take it in any form, especially when it comes in a brown carbonated liquid otherwise known as cola or in an ice cold popsicle with bright red artificial dye. But unless I want him bouncing off the ceilings- I learned the hard way that sugar and kids don’t mix (truth be told my husband does not do too well when highly caffeinated either). So what’s a mama, who needs to find a healthy substitute to the “brown bubble water” as my son fondly calls it, to do? Get smarter about snacking. And of course being that back to school time is synonymous with snack time I am all about finding ways for my kids to snack smarter! Because if your kids are anything like mine they would like nothing more than to stick their mouths underneath a gushing sugar fountain the second they get home from school as each of them SCREAMS “I AM STARVING.”
So I’ve come up with a few tips that I have begun to institute to get my kids to snack smarter (especially after school!)
#1 Snacks can ONLY be consumed in an area without distractions. In other words, when they get home from school they need to put their books away, wash their hands and sit at the table and breathe. And then they can eat. We avoid snacking while watching TV or when using other electronic devices. That’s right that is one of my non-negotiables: the kids are not allowed to eat in front of any kind of hand held device so that they can actually focus on the food they are shoving down their gullets!
#2 PORTION control is KEY. But it’s not just about what you offer as a snack — it’s how much you serve and when you do so. So parents pay attention to portion sizes and timing of snacks so they don’t interfere with a child’s appetite for the next scheduled meal.
#3 Let them DIP! Kids love dipping. Serve up hummus with veggies or a small portion of baked tortilla or pita chips. You can dip granola bars and fruit into yogurt, and my son also likes apple slices dipped in peanut butter.
#4 Always have sugar free beverages READY! Kids will be thirsty, too. Skip the soda and offer ice water with a wedge of lemon or lime on warm afternoons. Low fat chocolate milk or 100 percent fruit juice diluted with water are also good choices!
#5 And last but certainly not least Stock your fridge with snacks that are easy for them to Grab and Go! Sure bags of chips are easy- but skip those and choose ones that everyone can feel good about. If you are looking for snacks with less sugar – and want a great tasting organic after school snack for your kids when they come home one of our faves is Stonyfield® Organic YoKids® yogurt.
Stonyfield is made with milk from cows who graze naturally on lush grass which gives their yogurt a rich and unique flavor. And like all Stonyfield products, they are organic, non-GMO and made without the use of artificial hormones.Stonyfield® Organic YoKids® yogurtis the #1 organic kids yogurt brand. By saying Stonyfield® Organic YoKids® yogurt are certified organic, that means each cup is always made without the use of toxic persistent pesticides, artificial hormones, antibiotics and GMOs in the crops that the cows are fed. Organic Certification matters because just calling something natural isn’t a guarantee. They have the USDA Organic label to prove it.
Another thing that will make parents feel good–Stonyfield recently announced a sugar reduction across its yogurt portfolio of 25-40% less sugar than the leading kids yogurt; pouches will be available with up to 35% less sugar than the leading kids’ yogurt starting December ’17. They also use no high fructose corn syrup.
Besides the outstanding process used in making Stonyfield why is it a yogurt that is IDEAL for afterschool snacks?Bottom line; it is so versatile! It comes in YoKids® cups, smoothies and Squeezers, making it a convenient and delicious grab-and-go snack that can be enjoyed anywhere. In fact we can take them with us where ever we go and my son grabs them after school right from the fridge. He also loves his after dinner YoKids yogurt as a snack and we feel good giving this to him. And not only are their products certified organic and low in sugar but Stonyfield is a certified B Corp: Certified B Corps meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability. As a B Corp™, they aspire to use the power of markets to solve social and environmental problems. We need more corporations that have this kind of social conscience.
So whether your children are picky or good eaters get them Stonyfield® Organic YoKids® yogurtand you can feel good that your kids are not only getting a great yogurt made by a caring company but that you are helping them snack smarter!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Stonyfield® Organic YoKids®.
There’s nothing better than offering healthy but filling snacks for the kids! I think this is awesome, it’s definitely great to offer yogurt especially since this one has less sugar!
My daughter is the same way with sugar. She loves it but it does not love her. We have been eating the Stonyfield lately too and she really loves it
I am so in the mindset that food should be consumed when you are focusing purely on it. It’s so much better for you. I haven’t seen this yogurt but I’ll definitely keep an eye out for it.
My daughter loves yogurt as a snack. The tubes are great frozen, for that frozen popsicle treat, and she loves dipping fruit into her yogurt as well.
Yes to dipping!!! All of my kids love fruits and veggies in a healthy dip.
It’s probably wise to have your kids concentrate on what they are eating. I know I love to have the TV on or a book in front of me. Probably not wise.
Sugar free drinks are so important for kids, especially while they’re snacking! Portion control is also a huge thing to be aware of, great post!
When I was a kid there was no question that we would only have healthy snacks waiting for us at home. That’s just how my mom rolled. Of course, occasionally we would sneak something not so healthy, but to this day it has made me reach for yogurt or fruit.
As a nutritionist, I would say that dairy is one of the most important things to purchase organic for your kids. The non-organic is just full of pesticides and hormone disruptors. And of course, the reduction in sugar is a good thing. Most yogurt cups have a crazy amount of sugar.
My kids love Stonyfield yogurt! It’s the easiest way to get protein into my picky eaters!
I’m so happy that my kids love fruits as much as I do, it’s easier to encourage them to eat healthier. I think this yogurt is worth a try! Great tips for parents!
These tips are great, some of them i could even carry over to me as an adult to stop me from over indulging on snacks! Hahaha!
Such great tips! I always try to make sure my kids choose smarter options after school instead of the quick junky ones. They’d love this yogurt. My kids are big yogurt fans!
Great tips! Our family has recently become very interested in eating healthier so this article was right one time.
Stonyfield is the only brand of yogurt I buy and we ALWAYS have some in our house. My kids LOVE it.
Yogurt is a great after school snack. It’s tasty and healthy, and it’s so much better for the kid’s LONG term health than the junk they usually want to eat.
It’s funny, I am not a yogurt fan. However, thankfully, my kids loves yogurts. We always have yogurts in the fridge, as they are a quick and easy thing for the kids to snack on. Love this brand as well!@
Thrifting Diva
http://www.thriftingdiva.com
Great tips! Both my daughters really enjoy Stonyfield YoKids products too. They’re great for packing in my oldest daughter’s lunch and perfect for my youngest at home.
My kiddos doesn’t love yogurt much. But I think these are really great snacks. Thank you for sharing!
I have been TRYING to get my kids to eat their snacks in an area without distractions, but I keep failing. I love these tips and we could definitely use more healthy after school snack options.
We have always liked their yogurt! My son used to eat that when he was a toddler. I actually forgot about them I think it’s a great idea as an afterschool snack.
Important to make sure kids get the nutrition they need. My girls love yogurt and pouches are the best!
Love your no distraction s while eating rule. We always have yogurt in the refrigerator. My kids love it.
These are really great ideas to make sure that your kids are snacking smarter. WOW! This is so important.
I love the idea of no distractions while eating. It totally helps to make better choices when you are paying attention to what you are eating.
Excellent ideas. Healthy snacks are so important. We often have the grands over after school. One of the first things they look for …. after-school snacks! Since most everthing we have is organic, Stonyfield YoKids products would be perfect for then to snack on. Especially with no distractions!
Stonyfield yogurt is a popular choice for snacking at our house. I think I enjoy it as much as the rest of the family. Of course being organic is such a huge bonus!
I am always looking for healthier options to feed my family. I will have to look for some Stonyfield Organic YoKids yogurt this weekend. I am sure it will be a big hit.
I’m sure my oldest daughter would love these. My youngest isn’t much of a fan of yogurt. Would love to get them for my daughters to see if they’d like them though.
My kids both loved yogurt. They loved having it in their lunchbox for school or eating it as a snack.
Stoneyfield is my kids favorite brand yogurt! They eat those yogurt pops everyday!
My kids really love these yogurt tubes. They love the flavors so much and I love that they are organic.
My girls love yogurts, I just haven’t tried giving them these. I may have to give them a try next time I am out shopping
Yogurt is a great snack or breakfast. And just very healthy
My kids love yogurt. It’s a great breakfast option, after school snack or a dessert. Yogurt is a staple in our home.
I really love these ideas! I am sure my kids will enjoy snacking after school!
My kids ate a ton of yogurt and I never minded as it has so much good in it. Especially after a hard day at school, I was glad they ate something so healthy.
After school is so hard with snacking. THe kids come home ravenous!!! I love Stonyfield products, my daughter eats their yogurt quite often.