Better-for-you snacks kids will love

Friday, July 30, 2010
Watermelon Kebabs

Family Features

Kids love to snack. But left to their own devices, most kids don't always make the healthiest snack choices.

A new study of long-term eating patterns in children, from researchers at the University of North Carolina, shows that kids today are getting nearly one-third of their daily calories from unhealthy snacks such as chips, crackers and candy.

Nutritious and delicious snacks are as close as your produce aisle. Water­melon is practically a multivitamin unto itself -- and its natural sweetness

is something kids love.

Did You Know?

A 2-cup serving of watermelon is an excellent source of Vitamins A, B6 and C.

Vitamin A found in watermelon is important for optimal eye health.

Vitamin B6 found in watermelon is used by the body to manufacture brain chemicals (neurotransmitters), such as serotonin, melatonin and dopamine, which preliminary research shows may help the body cope with anxiety

and panic.

Vitamin C in watermelons can help to bolster your immune system's defenses against infections and viruses, and is known to stimulate the immune system and protect against free radical damage.

A 2-cup serving of watermelon is also a source of potassium, a mineral necessary for water balance and found inside of every cell. People with low potassium levels can experience muscle cramps. A 2-cup serving has less than 10 percent of the daily reference value for potassium.

Try these fun recipes as after-school and post-activity snacks. For more kid-friendly recipes and healthy eating tips, visit www.watermelon.org.

Watermelon Kebabs

1-inch cubes of seedless
watermelon
Smoked turkey breast
Cheddar cheese
Coffee stirrers or
beverage straws

Cut watermelon, turkey and cheese in cubes and skewer on stirrers or straws.

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