Kids' Snacking Made Easy

Margaret Hudson
President, Burnbrae Farms
4^th Generation Farmer

Canadians love to snack, and that’s especially true for children. In fact, snacking contributes about 27% of the total daily energy (calorie) intake in Canadian children, who actually snack more than adults (21% of calories).

But snacking is a good thing for children, as long as the snacks provide some nourishment. Little tummies get full quickly, so it’s hard to get enough nutrition at mealtime alone. Snacks can be used to fill in the gaps for foods that are not consumed at mealtime.

To be clear, when I say ‘snack,’ I’m talking about nutrient-dense options that are filled with protein, vitamins, and minerals, such as eggs, vegetables, fruit, and cheese. I’m not talking about ‘treat’ snacks like chips and chocolate, which are not meant to fill the hunger gap. Those are great as fun treats, but they don’t provide the nourishment that children require for proper growth and development.

Consider this: more than a quarter of a child’s calories come from between-meal snacks, so it makes the most sense to choose nutrient-dense options that are loaded with protein or fibre or vitamins. That’s a better option than offering sweet and salty treats at every snack occasion!

And yep, there are lots of occasions to snack. Kids tend to snack two or three times per day, and we’ve got just the thing to fit the bill. Our new EGG Bites! Mini Crustless Quiches are perfect for little hands, small appetites, and small tummies. All-day breakfast snacking is finally here, because these little bites are a perfect for any time of day. Breakfast for dinner is a long-standing food trend that kids love, and we’re taking it one step further by offering a satisfying savoury breakfast craving at snack time!

Conveniently bite-sized, our new EGG Bites! Minis come frozen with 10-12 mini bites per resealable pouch, and you can select the amount you want for any snack. They are ‘poppable’ any time of day and are so easy to prepare: Just microwave for 90 seconds and they are ready to go.

These mini snacks pack a maximum nutritional punch. A serving of 3 EGG Bites! contains 10 grams of protein and are a source of calcium. Plus, they are gluten-free and suitable for kids with celiac disease or a wheat allergy. Made with eggs, meat, cheese, and vegetables, they are available in two delicious flavours:

- Pizza Deluxe with mozzarella & cheddar cheese, pepperoni, green & red peppers, onions, and tomatoes
- Tex Mex with Mexican-style beef, potatoes, cheddar & mozzarella, roasted corn, and green peppers.

For an anytime snack that’s delicious, fun, and healthy, look for Burnbrae Farms EGG Bites! in your local freezer aisle.

Some other ‘kid friendly’ snacks that are filled with fibre, protein, vitamins, and minerals include:

- Steamed edamame (green soybeans)
- Burnbrae EGGS2go! hard-boiled eggs
- Trail mix with nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and roasted chickpeas
- Greek yogurt with berries and granola
- Peanut butter and banana sandwich on whole grain bread
- Crackers, cheese, and grapes
- Smoothies: try the Banana Berry Smoothie or Green Goddess Smoothie made with a boost of natural protein with Naturegg Simply Egg Whites .

The bottom line? Kids thrive on nourishing snacks, so keep them handy for happy snack time!

Margaret Hudson

President and CEO, Burnbrae Farms