FINDING healthier snacks that the kids will enjoy can feel like mission impossible. With growing concerns about ultra processed foods and artificial ingredients, striking that balance between something nutritious AND tasty is no mean feat, but Pip Organic has come up trumps with a range of NEW healthier snacking options your children will love!
NEW Pip Organic Strawberry and Banana Pipcrunch is simply made with 100% organic freeze-dried bananas and strawberries in yummy bite-sized crunchy cubes – perfect for munching on the move in a handy snack pack. The freeze-drying process retains taste, as well as locking in essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
If your children are already fans of the Pip Organic Pipsticks range, The NEW Strawberry and Mango Pipsticks are guaranteed to be a household hit. Ideal for lunchboxes and picnics, each delicious stick is made with fruit which is simply sliced, dried and chopped – just wholesome organic goodness as nature intended.
Like the rest of the Pip Organic range, both Pipcrunch and Pipsticks contain no added sugar, flavourings or anything artificial making them perfect snacks for parents to trust.
Each harvest, Pip Organic works closely with organically certified co-operative farmers to select the very best fruit varieties, putting nature first from Pip to Pack, providing parents with a nutritious, guilt-free way to say ‘YES!’ to a tasty treat kids will love.
Why snacking between meals doesn’t have to spoil your kids’ dinner by Pip Organic resident nutritionist
Parents are often led to believe that allowing snacks between meals will take the edge of their child’s appetite but, according to leading kids’ nutritionist, Julia Wolman, snacking in the right way can help them eat better at main mealtimes.
“Many parents I see in my clinic ask if they should stop their child snacking between meals so they are ‘hungrier’ for their lunch or dinner and to combat fussy eating, but structured snacks may actually support more positive mealtimes, as well as helping to meet your child’s nutritional needs” says Julia.
“Snacking is an important part of a child’s diet, with the right snacks providing nutrients and calories to support their energy needs for growth and development. Research shows that hunger causes irritability in children due to low blood glucose levels, resulting in ‘Hangriness’ – which can lead to tantrums and main meal refusal.
“Younger children have smaller stomachs with less capacity to wait between meals, which means they require more frequent energy. If they get too hungry, they can become ‘hangry’ – and any parent will tell you that an irritable child doesn’t eat well!
“Many of the parents I speak to are concerned that typical snack choices are unhealthy and their children tend to want sweet, sugary snacks. Whilst it can be tempting to restrict these foods, research has found that banning them from your child’s diet can increase their desire and intake of these foods when available.
“Rather than restricting, it’s important to normalise all foods (including what we might regard as ‘treat’ foods), to show children that there is a place for everything in a healthy balanced diet. This in turn broadens the repertoire of fussier eaters, promoting more self-confidence and independence.”
Julia says it’s not a case of giving children free rein, it’s more about including a variety of all foods without labelling them ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and seeking out more balanced options.
“In terms of snacks there are options with no added sugar, like dried fruit snacks which contain only fruit and no added sweeteners or additives, such as Pip Organic Pipsticks, which could be offered along with other food groups, such as a sandwich, cheese, yogurt, houmous and veg sticks.
“Well thought-out, balanced snacks provide extra nutrients for children and planning in this way can help parents feel reassured about their child’s nutritional intake, especially if they are fussy eaters and don’t eat well at main meals.”
