With summer in full swing, your children are going to need some nourishing snacks to keep them going through the hot days and daily activities! While giving them healthy and balanced meals is important to their oral and overall health, we understand that they’re going to want snacks before their next meal.
To ensure they keep their oral health in check, as well as have a fun time, your children’s dentist in Lincoln has a few healthy snack ideas worth considering. We think you and your children will find them fun to make!
Know the Foods to Choose
Many foods that you may consider to be healthy can actually be quite harmful to teeth, especially at a young age. If you want to protect your children’s teeth, take a moment to view Williamsburg Dental’s brochure below.
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As you can see, foods like dried fruit, fruit snacks or strips, dried flour cereal, pretzels, crackers, juice, and sports drinks can all cause cavities easily. If you want to protect your child’s oral development, you’ll be better off sticking with foods that are guaranteed not to cause cavities. Of course, substituting harmful snacks with ones that don’t usually cause cavities is worth considering as well.
Without further ado, let’s jump into some of the recipes!
Fruit Pops and Kebabs
When using fruit for snacks, always try to go fresh. Fresh fruit contains large amounts of water, which is great for saliva production and washing away bacteria that sticks to the teeth and gums. Fruits like watermelon are a super refreshing fruit that’s easy to cut into fun shapes, like hearts, stars, and moons! You can also create fun summer animals using fruit, such as caterpillars and crabs.
After shaping them, simply stick them into a popsicle stick and you’re good to go! Much better than a block of ice cream from the grocery store, and cheaper too.
Additionally, consider making a kebab made up of all your child’s favorite fruits, such as:
- Pineapple
- Kiwi
- Apple
- Cantaloupe
- Grapes
Go Nuts with Nut Butter!
Your children can still eat many of their favorite spreads, as long as they are 100 percent made from nuts. Look for nut butter or all-natural peanut butter the next time you shop. These are a great source of protein without having as much sugar. They also work great as a decoration or glue for making snacks!
For example, combine apple slices, oats, and nut butter to build towering sandwiches. Use nut butter, celery, carrots, and apple slices to construct elaborate animals like snails, grasshoppers, and butterflies. Now your family can eat bugs without feeling grossed out about it.
With so many healthy foods to choose from, there’s no reason not to get creative and prevent cavities at the same time. To learn more fun summer recipes or get your kids the care they need, schedule an appointment with your Lincoln children’s dentist today!
About the Author
Dr. Amy Wenninghoff earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Minnesota. She’s always prepared to treat patients with the same quality care and high level of attention, regardless of their age. To learn more about your children’s dentist in Lincoln or her practice, contact her at (402) 420-2222 or visit her website.