Children have small stomachs and high energy needs, so planned snacks can be a useful part of their day.
A simple rule
Public Health England's advice for parents was to look for snacks of around 100 calories, and to stick to no more than two a day.
Snack ideas around 100 kcal
- A small banana.
- An apple with a few cubes of cheese.
- Carrot and cucumber sticks with hummus.
- Plain yoghurt with berries.
- A rice cake with a thin spread of nut butter (if no allergies).
- A small handful of plain popcorn.
- Half a wholemeal pitta with tzatziki.
- A boiled egg.
Snacks to keep occasional
Sweets, chocolate, biscuits, cakes, crisps and sugary drinks. Many packaged children's snacks marketed as healthy are high in sugar — check the traffic-light label.
Teeth matter
Sugary foods and drinks are a leading cause of tooth decay in children. Keep them to mealtimes, and offer water or milk between meals.
Choking safety
For young children, cut grapes and cherry tomatoes lengthways and avoid whole nuts under age five.