MAX OUT on healthy SNACKS
vegetables, as children should be encouraged to eat a variety of these to achieve their five-a-day. As well as giving children fruit to munch, other interesting fruit and veg snacks include things like vegetable sticks with low-fat hummus, or fruit kebabs. Eating plenty of fruit and veg isn’t a problem for Lisa and Billie.
“We’ve always eaten lots of fruits and vegetables at home – we cut up carrots and peppers to have with dips or have wedges of banana and apple with peanut butter,” says Lisa.
“Because we’ve been having these healthy snacks for a long time now, it’s become my daughter’s natural instinct to choose a healthier option. As she’s growing she’s constantly hungry, so I’m very glad she enjoys fruits and vegetables to snack on.” LISA says Billie doesn’t pester her for snacks too often, but explains: “When she does, we work to the rule of balance. So she’s allowed to have a naughtier snack, like an iced bun for example, on one day, but then the next day she’ll have to have a healthier snack instead.”
The actress – whose EastEnders character Fi Browning has just made a dramatic exit from the TV soap – stresses how important eating healthy snacks is, however time-pressed parents are.
“We have such busy lifestyles these days, and it’s easy to just grab unhealthy snacks on the go. But when many of these snacks can be very sugary, it has a real impact on our health and can make children overweight.
“When it comes to snacks, as a parent I’ve found that the more prepared you are, the easier it is – although I know this can be difficult.
“It’s really important to help children learn healthy habits and educate kids to be healthy in their lifestyles, which doesn’t just mean eating healthily but also staying active, getting out and about with them, as well as making sure they take part in after school clubs etc.” AS part of the Change4Life campaign, parents will be given special offers on a range of healthier snacks, including fruit and vegetables at selected supermarkets.
They can also get money off vouchers to try healthier snack options, including malt loaf, lower sugar fromage frais, and drinks with no added sugar.
Parents can also download Change4Life’s improved Food Scanner app, which shows how many calories, sugar, saturated fat and salt are in popular snacks.