Have you ever thought about the difference between a treat and a snack? Are they the same?
I never really thought about the difference between a treat and snack until my son started preschool. I was struggling with the selection of food and the frequency sugary items were being offered to them. After several conversations, I noticed that everyone had a different definition of what a snack and treat should be. In some cases the words were used interchangeably and there was no difference. At that point I realized it was my job to create some definitions of these for my children.
I began to think more about the topic of snack versus treat, what do they mean, how often do we eat them and how are they different? I had many questions and I wanted to answer these for my family. I do believe that kids can have fun and still be kids while making healthier selections throughout their day.
This is how my family now defines a snack and a treat.
A snack is something we eat in-between meals, has nutritional value, and has no or very little added sugar. We try to stick to fruits & vegetables. We do include some crackers at times but usually with another food group. Some of our favorites include:
- A sliced apple
- Cheese
- Homemade veggie muffins
- Spinach and Carrots (My 5 year old’s response to the question)
- Veggies and Hummus
- A smoothie (One of our favorites made with frozen banana, almond milk or water, spinach and cinnamon)
A treat is something we enjoy on occasion, it may not be everyday but sometimes we do enjoy something extra.
- Cookies
- Chocolate chips (We love EnjoyLife brand)
- Chocolate cake
- Chocolate almond butter spread
I have noticed a chocolate trend in our favorite treats!
Having clear definitions in our home has made snack time much easier and helps us get additional serving of vegetables and fruits in our day.
What do you think? Are treats and snacks different? What are your favorites?
