It’s a beautiful day in Bartlesville, and you’re planning on spending the afternoon at the park with your children. You’re ready to pack some snacks, but as you sort through the pantry, you notice the high sugar levels in foods like fruit snacks, cookies, and crackers. It’s common for parents to feel pressured to purchase common cavity-causing foods for their children due to the family-friendly branding and convenience of certain products. However, easy and healthier options are out there. You can boost your children’s dental health through these 3 healthy snack hacks and promote a cavity-free new year.
1—Swap Your Sweets
As children grow, calorie-rich foods are naturally appealing to them. Sweets pack many calories, yet they often lack the nutritional value required for sustainable growth and healthy teeth. Packaged baked goods, candy, and sugary juices can trigger cavity development in children at a young age, resulting in frequent fillings, potential discomfort, and other health concerns. You can meet your child’s calorie needs and sugar cravings through these sweet yet healthier substitutions:
- Swap fruit snacks for fresh fruit
- Trade ice cream for yogurt or smoothies
- Replace soda with sparkling water
- Swap sugary granola bars with trail mix
- Replace pastries with nut butter toast
2—Use Easy At-Home Recipes
Sometimes cavity-causing foods are especially appealing because they’re as easy as pouring carbohydrate-rich crackers out of a box. To save yourself time while keeping your family’s oral and physical health on track, consider making one of these easy at-home snacks:
- Sliced apples and nut butter
- Hummus and carrot sticks
- Protein balls with nuts, bananas, and toppings
- Fruit cabobs
3—Buy Healthier Packaged Snacks
Adjusting your shopping habits can also significantly limit your family’s chance of developing cavities, as these healthy foods a quick and easy for on-the-go snacking. Next time you’re at the grocery store, consider picking up these items:
- Squeeze-pouch apple sauce
- Dried fruit chips
- Natural veggie straws
- String cheese
- Single-serve popcorn bags
With these at-home and in-store snack hacks, you can begin the new year with strong, healthy smiles for your entire family, kicking those cavity-causing foods to the curb!
About the Author
Dr. Luke Lumpkin is an experienced family dentist located in Bartlesville, OK. As a member of the American Dental Association, an active volunteer for local charities, and a father of two, Dr. Lumpkin is passionate about the health and wellbeing of his community. Serving patients of all ages, Dr. Lumpkin is equipped to keep an entire family’s dental health on track. If you have questions about creating healthier snacks for your family during this new year, reach out to Dr. Lumpkin at (918) 336-6777 or through his website.