Kids love to snack! Whether it’s as a mini meal or to have something tasty, all kids are snackers. The challenge for parents is finding the right snacks to give our kids and it can be daunting – we want them to enjoy what they eat, it should be tasty, fun and preferably be good for them too. Despite the growing awareness around nutrition and wellness, snack options in particular are still mostly ultra-processed, artificial foods that are fullof preservatives and added sugar, salt and fat – or a combination of all three.They are engineered to taste good but are full of ingredients I believe should be a minimal part of anyone’s diet, but especially children’s.

While we can’t totally eliminate such snacks, I feel we should do our best to reduce our children’s intake of them and find better alternatives that are just as enjoyable. That enjoyment factor is key! If we present our children with an option that doesn’t taste great, no matter how wholesome it might be, they will not be interested. It all comes down to taste, it is a snack after all.

One of the reasons I enjoy working with BEAR is because their snacks are that better alternative and they definitely pass the taste test. And they have just launched their BEARilliant Fruit Squeezers. The same two ingredient recipe as the fruity BEAR ice lollies we know and love, but in a new convenient squeezer – perfect for little hands and mess free.

As a nutritionist who often works with families, I am always advising parents to look at the ingredients on the back of the pack; it’s important to know what our little ones are eating so we can make informed decisions. All too often we are misled by clever marketing and “health halos”for products that appear healthy but a quick look at the ingredients reveals otherwise.

While we’re on the subject of ingredients, these newBEAR Fruit Squeezers are made with just two simple ingredients; fruit juice and fruit puree. That’s it. They’re made with 100% real fruit - no added sugar and no nonsense. They contain naturally occurring sugar from the fruit which is a good source of energy. The natural sugars found in fruit are a form of carbohydrate, which is the body’s preferred source of fuel. Our body knows exactly what to do with it, how to utilise it and convert it to energy for fun and adventures.

When I’m asked to recommend snacks, especially sweet ones; fruity options like BEAR snacks will always make the list as part of a healthy balanced diet. I do also recommend that ideally they are enjoyed aftera meal, something that contains protein and some fibre. Eating this way not only helps maintain more stable blood sugar levels, it is also a healthy food habit to teach our little ones.

As an added bonus, since both ingredients have such a high water content, BEAR’s Fruit Squeezers are also a delicious way to help little ones stay hydrated. We all know kids can forget to drink water, especially when they’re having fun so presenting them with something they will enjoy works brilliantly.

I will have my freezer well stocked with BEAR’s Fruit Squeezers throughout summer. These are mum approved, nutritionist approved and most definitely kid approved!

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