Kids Snacking All Day? 5 Foods to Clear Out of the Pantry This Summer

Summer vacation has officially begun, and the kids are home! Many parents have taken to social media to share their frustration over their children's eating habits, as kids naturally seem to open the pantry and kitchen cupboards countless times throughout the day.

To help your family enjoy a healthier and more relaxed summer break, here are five foods worth limiting or keeping out of easy reach — and healthier alternatives to offer instead.

1. Sugary Drinks and Processed Fruit Juices

Sweetened beverages and commercial fruit juices cause sharp spikes in blood sugar, followed by rapid energy crashes that can leave children tired, irritable, and craving more sugar.

A better choice: Cold water flavored with lemon slices, fresh mint, or frozen berries.

2. Salty, Processed Snacks

Chips and other high-sodium snacks increase thirst and can leave children feeling sluggish and bloated.

A better choice: Fresh vegetable sticks served with tahini or homemade hummus.

3. Sugary Breakfast Cereals

Many colorful breakfast cereals are loaded with refined sugar and provide very little lasting nutrition.

A better choice: Oatmeal topped with fresh fruit or plain yogurt.

4. Store-Bought Pastries

Packaged pastries are often high in trans fats, refined sugar, and processed ingredients.

A better choice: Fresh seasonal fruit such as watermelon, cantaloupe, or grapes.

5. "Energy" Bars

Don't let the word energy fool you. Many so-called energy bars are little more than candy bars in disguise.

A better choice: A handful of unsalted nuts or dried fruit with no added sugar.

Make Healthy Choices the Easy Choices

The key isn't to fight with your children over food. Instead, make healthy options visible and easily accessible by placing them on the kitchen counter or within easy reach, while keeping less nutritious snacks stored higher up or out of sight. Small changes in the home environment can make healthy eating feel natural all summer long.