I am yet to meet a person who does not enjoy snacking. It is my favorite part of the day and due to the nature of my job (full-time dentisting), I am only able to enjoy a snack after I get home, pre-dinner.
For any parents reading this, my questions to you are -
How frequently are your kids snacking?
What is the nature of these snacks? Starchy/sticky carbs? Concentrated sugary drinks?
What do they do once they are done snacking?
Helpful tips -
Frequency of snacking matters more than the quantity. Try not to offer them more than 2 snacks a day.
Try to identify and limit the carbs in your child’s snacks - Chips/bagels/fruits snacks/rice cakes
Some personal favorites non-carb snacks - Nuts, cheese, white milk
If it is hard to limit the consumption of carb-rich snacks then offer your child a non-carb option at the end. This can help increase the pH in the mouth which can break the cycle of cavity formation.
Lipid-based snacks like peanut butter or almond butter are also great for your kids.
Freshly squeezed juices are less harmful than artificial juices that come in juice boxes.
Let’s put some thought into this joyful act. A little goes a long way, or does it? ;)