by Guest | Sep 28, 2024 | Being Well, Eat Well, Featured, Lunch & Snack Recipes, Recipes
Healthier Snack Choices: At Home and in the Classroom
At Tillamook County Wellness, we believe that building healthy habits starts at home and continues in the classroom. Teaching children to make better snack choices is a valuable way to support their overall wellness. Here’s how families and educators can help kids make nutritious decisions every day.
At Home: Healthy Habits Start with You
Setting a positive example and providing nutritious options at home can empower children to make healthier choices. Encourage them to reach for snacks like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. Involve your kids in snack preparation to make it a fun and engaging experience. Colorful combinations from different food groups can turn a healthy snack into an exciting treat!
It’s also important to teach children to listen to their bodies and let them decide when they are full. Reading food labels together is another great way to help kids avoid added sugars and unhealthy fats. By developing these skills early on, children will feel empowered to make healthier decisions throughout their lives.
In the Classroom: Creating Healthy Snack Environments
Teachers can play a significant role in fostering healthy habits by bringing nutritious snacks into the classroom. Providing fruits and vegetables as snacks not only encourages better eating habits but also normalizes healthy food choices among peers. Just be sure to check for any food allergies or school rules regarding snacks.
Keep things simple and cost-effective. Something as easy as a few apple slices or colorful bell pepper strips can make a big impact. You can also team up with other parents to provide a nutritious snack, like veggie sticks with ranch dip or a homemade trail mix with dried fruits and whole grain cereals. Working together ensures kids get balanced options at school and at home, helping them form lifelong healthy habits.
Fun and Healthy Snack Ideas:
- Crackers and salsa
- Bell peppers (in different colors)
- Applesauce
- Oranges
- Fruit cups
- Pears
- Tomatoes
- Yogurt
- Trail mix
- Cheese
- Bananas
- Apples
- Cereal bars
For more nutritious snack ideas and resources, check out Foodhero.org
By reinforcing these healthy habits at home and in the classroom, we help children build a strong foundation for their overall wellness. Together, we can create a healthier future for Tillamook County families!
Information for this article provided by Food Hero.
Other wellness questions? Email us at info@tillamookcountywellness.org. For more local health and wellness information, visit www.tillamookcountywellness.org or follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook and Instagram.
by Renee Aufdermauer | Sep 6, 2024 | Eat Well, Featured, Lunch & Snack Recipes, Recipes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 banana, cut in half crosswise and again lengthwise
- 1 cup Greek yogurt (plain or flavored)
- 1 cup whole-grain fortified cereal (check the Nutrition Facts label)
- 1 teaspoon honey (optional)
- 1/4 cup sliced strawberries (fresh or frozen)
- 1/4 cup canned pineapple pieces (fresh or canned in 100% juice and drained)
Directions
- Wash hands with soap and water.
- Place 2 pieces of banana next to each other in each of the 2 cereal bowls.
- Over the banana in each cereal bowl, spoon half the yogurt and sprinkle half the cereal. Drizzle with honey, if desired.
- Top with fruit and serve.
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
Notes
- Try any fruit, such as blueberries and sliced peaches.
- Look at a cereal’s Nutrition Facts label to see if it is fortified with added nutrients such as B12.
- Use any type of yogurt. Look at the Nutrition Facts label for nutrients of concern such as protein, calcium, saturated fat and added sugars.
Photo & Recipe Source: https://www.foodhero.org/recipes/high-protein-banana-split
by Guest | Aug 23, 2024 | Eat Well, Featured, Recipes
Looking for a delicious and healthy meal? Fish Tacos are the perfect choice!
Ingredients:
FISH
2 pounds cod fillets
3 Tablespoons lime juice (about 2 limes)
1 tomato, chopped
½ onion, chopped
3 Tablespoons chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon salt
SLAW
2 cups shredded cabbage (red or green)
½ cup chopped green onion
¾ cup nonfat sour cream or plain yogurt
8 corn tortillas (6-inch)
Directions:
- Wash hands with soap and water.
- Rinse or scrub fresh vegetables under running water before preparing.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Place fish in a baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, mix lime juice, tomato, onion, cilantro, oil, peppers and salt. Spoon the mixture on top of fish.
- Cover dish loosely with aluminum foil to keep fish moist.
- Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until fish is opaque and separates easily with a fork. If you have a food thermometer, the internal temperature should reach 145 degrees F.
- For the slaw: In a large bowl, mix cabbage and onion. Add sour cream and salsa; stir until mixed.
- Divide cooked fish among tortillas. Add ¼ cup of slaw to each. Fold over and enjoy!
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
Notes
- Freeze extra lime juice to use later.
by Renee Aufdermauer | Jul 5, 2024 | Eat Well, Featured, Recipes, Uncategorized
Give this Healthy Peach Ice Cream from the ‘Little Sunny Kitchen’ blog a try! Made with only 4 ingredients in just 5 minutes—no ice cream maker required!
Ingredients:
- 4 cups frozen peaches
- 3 Tablespoons honey or agave nectar
- 1/2 cup natural yogurt
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Add the frozen peaches, honey or agave, yogurt, and lemon juice into a food processor and process until creamy. Serve immediately or transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Resource: https://littlesunnykitchen.com/five-minute-peach-ice-cream/
by Guest | Jun 21, 2024 | Eat Well, Featured, Lunch & Snack Recipes, Recipes, Uncategorized
These kid-friendly strawberry chia yogurt pops offer a delicious, healthy way to cool down on a hot summer day! With a winning combo of brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids, gut-healthy probiotics, and muscle-strengthening protein, this will surely be your new favorite treat to beat the heat.
Ingredients:
1 cup finely chopped strawberries
3 Tbsp honey
2 cups 2% or whole Milk Greek Yogurt
1 Tbsp chia seeds
2 tsp vanilla
6 popsicle sticks
Chia seed garnish (optional)
Instructions:
In a bowl, using a fork, mash ⅓ cup of the strawberries. Add honey and mash to soften. Stir in yogurt, chia seeds and vanilla.
Spoon and divide yogurt mixture into molds, tapping on counter to eliminate air bubbles. Sprinkle with more chia seeds on top (if using) and insert popsicle sticks.
Freeze until solid, 3 to 4 hours. To remove from mold, dip casing into cup of warm water to loosen yogurt pop.
Tip: For a fun decorative look, slice one strawberry. Fill molds halfway and slide a slice directly on wall; top with remaining yogurt mixture.
Submitted by: Lewis Martin, MS, RD, LD, Nutrition Director with Oregon Dairy Counsel
by Guest | Jun 14, 2024 | Eat Well, Featured, Lunch & Snack Recipes, Recipes
Parmesan Herb-Baked Salmon
For Alzheimer’s and Brain Health Awareness month this June, we invite you to nourish your mind with the brain-boosting benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids found in Salmon! This easy-to-make recipe combines flaky salmon with a savory coating of parmesan that will save you time brainstorming what to make for dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 whole wild salmon filet with skin, 1 1/2 inches thick (2 lbs)
- 1/4 cup light mayo
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped dill
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 2 tablespoons chopped basil
- 2 tablespoons chopped chives
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easiest cleanup.
- Combine mayo, Parmesan, garlic and herbs in a small bowl.
- Place salmon, skin side down, onto lined baking sheet. Cover salmon with another piece of parchment or foil. Partially bake salmon for 8 minutes.
- Remove from oven and remove top piece of parchment paper.
- Spread the top with the Parmesan herb mixture.
- Return to oven uncovered and bake until the top has browned, and the salmon flakes easily with a fork.
- The salmon should register 135º F when checked with an internal thermometer probe, about 15 to 18 minutes if the fish is 1 1/2 inches thick, less or more depending on the thickness.
Resource: https://www.skinnytaste.com/parmesan-herb-baked-salmon/
Lewis Martin, MS, RD, LD, Nutrition Director with Oregon Dairy Counsel
