Snack-dinner for children
On weekends, when routines give way to leisure and family events and with friends, schedules are relaxed and we may find that the lunch schedule prevents us from including snack and dinner in the remaining day time. In situations like these we are faced with a dilemma when it comes to feeding our ch
On weekends, when routines give way to leisure and family events and with friends, schedules are relaxed and we may find that the lunch schedule prevents us from including snack and dinner in the remaining day time. In situations like these we are faced with a dilemma when it comes to feeding our children,should I offer snacks and dinner as we do every day or can a snack for children be enough?
Snack and dinner or snack-dinner for the children?
In the case of babies under one year of age in which the basic diet has to be milk, we should not worry at all if we skip a meal. At this time, complementary feeding does not contribute much to the nutritional level, but basically brings new experiences to the baby.
Afterwards, in early childhood, it is important to always keep in mind that a tired child will not eat enough nor will he enjoy the food, so if dinner and dinner suppose that the dinner is going to be offered late and the child will be very sleepy, it is better to opt for a snack during an intermediate time.
Older children and adolescents already respond to this dilemma as adults, and if for the adult the snack is a completely valid option, it is also for children, with the advantage that digestion is usually facilitated not doing as late as dinner.
At the time of offering a snack dinner, it should be taken into account that your nutritional contribution should be more similar to that of the dinner than to the snack, without necessarily becoming as energetic as this one.
Tips for organizing children's snack-dinner
- As carbohydrates can be offered potatoes or bread, preferably whole, or a little rice / pasta.
- Must include some type of protein food. As legumes are usually more difficult to digest when bedtime is close, it is best to avoid them, including some kind of meat or fish instead.
- Micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals can be delivered via fruit or vegetables. Vegetables are easily included, for example, with a small salad, which has the added benefit that, when eaten raw, no nutrient is lost. Although traditionally the fruit is offered in the dessert, there is no reason why it can not be included in the salad, the apple or the fresh grapes or raisins are quite accepted by the little ones. As another alternative, vegetables can be used to make sauces for meatballs, chicken or fish, and, if passed through the blender, the child will not even realize that he is eating them.
- Depending on the age, nuts and seeds can be very useful to provide essential fatty acids.
- The fish, especially the blue one, and the olive oil that season the salad, also offer a good contribution.
