Brown Rice cakes (unsalted or lightly salted)
• Spread with natural peanut butter.
• Top with reduced-fat natural cheese and/or lean meat.

Fruit and Vegetables
• Make them easy to grab: Cut, chop, or slice fresh fruit and vegetables to prevent loosening any of the braces. Store them in the refrigerator in easily accessible containers; store grapes in a large, open bowl in the fridge; store fresh fruit in a bowl on the counter.
• Make vegetables more appealing by serving them with low-fat dip or salad dressing.

• Although fresh fruit is best, unsweetened applesauce or fruit canned in juice or extra-light syrup can be good options, especially when pressed for time.

Baked Tortilla Chips and Salsa
• Consider serving low-fat refried or whole beans in addition to salsa.
• If you have time, make nachos by adding extras like melted reduced-fat cheese, diced tomatoes, green peppers, onion, low-fat sour cream, and guacamole.

Whole Grain, Low-fat Crackers
• Serve with reduced-fat natural cheese and/or lean meat. If using packaged meat, choose “natural” or “nitrite-free” varieties with minimal processing and preservatives, and those with less than 20% of the daily value for sodium.
• Spread with natural peanut butter or reduced-fat cream cheese (plain or flavored).

Whole Wheat (or Other Whole Grain) Miniature Bagels–Be sure to use your fingers to tear the bagels into pieces verses biting into them to avoid loosening a bracket.
• Top with reduced-fat natural cheese and/or lean meat.
• Spread with jam, natural peanut butter, or plain or flavored reduced-fat cream cheese.
• To add texture, toast the bagel but only lightly so it is not too hard for the braces.
• If you have time, make miniature pizzas: Toast bagels first to prevent sogginess, then add spaghetti or pizza sauce, reduced-fat cheese, and toppings and bake briefly.

Unsweetened Whole Grain Cereal and Low-fat Milk
• Top with fresh fruit like blueberries, sliced bananas, or strawberries.
• Add dried fruit like raisins or cranberries.

Reduced-fat or light String Cheese
• This is a good source of protein and calcium, and a great accompaniment to any snack. Try serving with fruit, vegetables or whole grain crackers.

Fruit and Yogurt Smoothie
• You have many options, so be creative! Use low-fat vanilla or fruit-flavored yogurt or frozen yogurt as the base. Blend in fresh or unsweetened frozen fruit. Throw in ice cubes, if needed, to reach the desired consistency. Remember not to chew on the ice cubes!! If this is too tempting, avoid adding them!
• You can add a splash of low-fat milk or 100% fruit juice, depending upon the desired flavor and consistency

Enjoy your after school snacks and let’s be healthy!!