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Redefining Pantry Staples
The Benefits of a Well-stocked Kitchen Part Two
By Donna Smith
- Natural fruit leathers
- Low-fat fruit and cereal bars
- Granola bars
- Dried fruit (raisins, apricots, pineapple rings, etc.)
- Trail mix (dried fruits mixed with nuts and seeds; of course nuts are not for very young children)
- Rice cakes, mini-rice cakes, popped corn cakes and other whole-grain cakes
- Individual containers of applesauce
- Naturally sweetened dry cereals (mix a few varieties together for a crunchy sweet snack for home and for school)
- Natural whole-grain graham crackers great for spreading with peanut butter
- Veggie sticks, carrot chips, root vegetable chips and other low-fat, low-salt snacks
- Sesame breadsticks
- Bagel or pita crisps
- Organic stone-ground tortilla or corn chips
- Naturally sweetened cookies
Atlas adds not to forget the fresh foods, and though these are fridge items and not pantry staples, it's good to have lots of fresh seasonal fruits on hand for snacking for kids of all ages, as well as organic baby carrots.
Peggy O'Shea, a Boston-based registered dietitian and a member of the Massachusetts Dietetic Association board of directors, says it's important to remember that snack foods can be healthy and provide good sources of vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutritious substances. "They don't have to be 'junk foods' at all," she says. "And the more healthful choices you have on hand, the more likely everyone in the family will be reaching for choices that not only taste good, but are also good for you!" She suggests the following staples for young children:
- Breakfast cereals (but stay away from the sugar-loaded ones!)
- Oatmeal
- Cream of wheat
- Animal crackers
- Small water bottles for on-the-go drinking
- Whole-wheat bread
- Penut butter (but remember children should be 1 to 2 years old before they are given any nuts, especially if there are food allergies in the family, and that peanut butter can be a choking hazard for very young children)
