Anonymous wrote:I make my kids eat their healthy snacks before the fun ones, since we are often in this same situation (I buy the crap sometimes too- like for long car-rides). But they know now: fruit, yogurt or nuts first.

But doesn't this teach kids to ignore natural hunger cues? If you don't want them to eat certain snacks, don't offer them. But allowing certain snacks as a "reward" for eating other food first doesn't make sense to me. It sounds like encouraging overeating. Also, it teaches kids that the "forbidden" snacks are the good ones. The opposite of what you hope to achieve.

(And, yes, if dessert is being offered with a meal my kid gets it regardless of how much of the other food they eat. Also, plenty of junk food in my house.)

Anonymous wrote:They aren't perfect but I buy the Annie's fruit roll ups, bunny crackers, etc. At least there aren't artificial colors, high fructose corn syrup, etc. He mostly eats these over the weekend or at camp for a snack since other kids have junk and he wants the same.

At home if he asks for a snack I offer fruit, persian cucumbers, nuts, etc.

I love input from first time moms of preschoolers. This stuff is seriously funny.

When you are competing with unhealthy food directly, it is hard to win. When we go to the pool for a long enough time to pack snacks, I just put in the 100 calorie snack bags and bring fruit. My son can choose one bag of crap and so can I) and then it is fruit.

My kid loves popcorn, which is actually a pretty healthy snack if you don't load on the butter, and which always feels kind of fun to me.

I also like to try to jazz up the fruit and veggies--fruit skewers, veggie faces, etc., to make it more appealing. I also like trail mix-type stuff with dried fruit, nuts, and a little chocolate.

Anonymous wrote:Skinnypop popcorn or Boomchickapop is always a popular, healthy choice in my house that still feels "fun."

Yes! I sometimes add a handful of mini chocolate chips to the popcorn (not healthy, but fun). My son also likes PBandJ. So, if I'm packing a "snack" not lunch, I cut a couple sandwiches into little squares or circles.

He also like Gogurt. Again, not great, but it does have some protein and nutrients. There's a "natural" version without a lot of artificial stuff.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why dont you focus on eating three good meals a day and limit snacks? who cares about a few crackers here and there? Learning moderation is important.

I agree that people eat way too many snacks, but boating is a social occasion. Where I'm from, social occasions call for food.

ok so it is a special occasion, let the kids eat goldfish. What will happen if they eat a "bad" snack on a social outing??

Then they eat a bad snack. I'm sorry, were you trying to make a point?

you are so witty!! The point went over your head dumb ass.

Anonymous wrote:I would cut my hand off trying to halve an avocado on a boat.

hahhaha. You can wait until the boat is stopped. Or you can cut it beforehand and bag it.

I would cut my hand off trying to halve an avocado on a boat.