Health Tip: Power Up With an Afternoon Snack

Whether you need a pick-me-up at the office or your child needs an energy boost after school, a healthy snack can be just what you need to power through the afternoon.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offers these healthy snack ideas for the afternoon:

• Munch on trail mix that contains dried fruit, nuts, low-sugar cereal and whole-grain pretzels, or a handful of nuts and raisins.
• Dip into some low-fat yogurt or have your favorite fruit or fruit smoothie.
• Enjoy veggies or pretzels dipped in hummus or peanut butter, or baked tortilla chips with salsa.
• Crunch on whole-grain crackers with low-fat cheese, or enjoy a bowl of whole-grain cereal with skim milk.
• Wrap a slice of low-sodium turkey around an apple slice or in a whole-wheat tortilla with some low-fat cheese, warmed up in the microwave.
• Spread nut butter on celery sticks and top with raisins or dried cranberries.
• For a beverage, stick to water, skim milk or 100 percent fruit juice.