It’s a Crime to Be Unhealthy!
#6 of 10 Articles by Well Connected Communities Coalition
UT-TSU Extension Madison County
By Susan Holloway, Program Assistant WCC
Snacking is Serious during the Summer! How can it be nutritious? The Cargill is a global food company based in the United States. They researched 1,200 adults with and without children and found snacking is on the rise. What do you think of when you think snack? These surveyed thought of snack bars, salty snacks, candy, and sweet baked goods. Cargill concluded “snacks may be the most dynamic food category today.” I say snacks may be the most expensive part of your food expenses today.
Ready prepared and prepackaged snacks can be a large percentage of food expenditures. Snacking can add nutrition and good maintenance of health problems or snacks can harm our control of weight and limit intake of nutritious foods. Everyone should be aware of the levels of sugar, salt, and fats in every food. The FAVORITE tasting foods may taste GOOD because the levels of these ingredients are so high. High levels of these ingredients may be most harmful to us with high blood pressure, high blood sugars, or heart disease. We must check the food labels to see if we can enjoy lower levels of the ingredients that make the best taste but the most harm. Do not be misled by words NATURAL or ORGANIC because these food items are not always lower in sugar, salt, and fats. Compare foods by comparing nutritional labeling facts.
I have several suggestions for great tasting and healthy snacking: ~Almond Butter and Whole Wheat Crackers ~Slices of Real Cheeses (not cheese foods) and Whole Wheat Crackers ~Fruits and Raw Vegetables packaged in small zipper bags ~Whole Grain Frozen Waffles with Almond Butter and Fruit Slices. Always drink 16 ounces of water with each snack. Drinks other than water add sugar or sweeteners which are NOT necessary. Water is all the way wonderful!
This is my favorite healthy way to serve fruit and prepare it ahead of snack time. Fresh or canned fruits are equally good if canned are in 100% juice or low-sugar syrup.
Choose at least 5 different kinds – Strawberries, Blueberries, Peaches, Pears, Apricots, Pineapple Tidbits, Kiwi, Grapes, Mango, etc. Drain and save the juice of any canned ones. Cut all into small bite pieces. Use 3-ounce box of Sugar-Free Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix to thicken 2 cups of the juices (do not use milk as package directions say).
Pour the pudding with juices over the fruits as a glaze to prevent aging. This will keep about 5 days in the refrigerator. I do not add bananas until serving time because they do not keep peeled and sliced as well as other fruits. Enjoy snacking!
What is the Well-Connected Communities Coalition? Well-Connected Communities is an effort to cultivate wellness across the country. America's Cooperative Extension System, Tennessee State University Cooperative Extension Program, in partnership with National 4-H Council, is equipping volunteer leaders to help their neighbors be healthier at every stage of life. With the support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the nation’s largest philanthropy dedicated solely to health, these communities are cultivating wellness and fostering a Culture of Health
in America. Locally, we are a group of approximately 15 agencies and individuals interested in the betterment of health in residents of the East Jackson and Denmark Communities.
