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346 Part VII: Exercising for All Ages and Stages

Healthy eating, teenage-style

To encourage healthy eating among the

teenage set, you have to master snacks. The

term snack foodprobably conjures images of

chips, cookies, and bite-size pizza treats, but a

snack is, technically, just something to tide you

over between meals. Although no teenager

is likely to come home from school and lick his

lips at the prospect of a steaming plate of broc-

coli, you can provide a variety of healthier

snacks that your teen will go for. Here are some

examples:

Veggie pizzas made with low-fat cheese

Soups and chili made with poultry breasts,

ground turkey breast, and other low-fat

meats

Fat-free or low-fat ranch dressing with

carrot and celery sticks, broccoli crowns,

cherry tomatoes, and any other veggies he

likes

Grapes, apple chunks, orange sections,

bananas, peaches, pears, plums, and any

other fruits that appeal to him

Dried raisins, dates, prunes, and any other

dried fruit without added sugar

Crackers low in fat and salt and high in fiber,

rice or corn cakes, a non-trans-fat popcorn

100 percent juice drinks

Natural peanut butter on whole-wheat

crackers, apples, or bananas

String cheese and whole-grain RyKrisp

crackers

Low-fat or fat-free pudding cup or yogurt

Trail mix

Low-fat ice cream sandwiches

Frozen yogurt

Low-fat chips and salsa

Hummus and whole-wheat pita, cut into

wedges

Nuts or sunflower seeds

Low-fat hot chocolate or latte