June 13, 2014
Summer means more free time throughout the day, and fun summertime snacks that you and your family typically don’t eat at other times of the year. Snow cones, popsicles, and slushes are classic examples. While these things are ok in moderation, they do contain high amounts of sugar and are usually eaten alone (which means the sugar sits on your tooth enamel for longer). Instead, here are some healthy everyday summer snack ideas that you can eat and feel great about.
Frozen grapes
When this fresh fruit is frozen, it becomes a delicious treat. It’s almost like a mini-popsicle! They’re great to have on hand after a hot day at the pool, or to keep partially thawed out in your cooler on an outing. Just be sure that if your children are eating them that they’re old enough to pay close attention so as not to choke.
Fresh berries
Not only are fresh berries loaded with vitamins, they’re also fun to pick! Consider taking a family outing to a local berry farm where you can gather bunches at a time and enjoy together. If you have less time, just find fresh fruits on sale at your local farmer’s market or grocery.
Sun brewed iced tea
Nothing says summer like a glass of freshly brewed iced tea. Flavoring your own tea with things like mint leaves or peach slices keeps your drink sugar-free and guilt-free so that you can drink as much as you like.
Frozen yogurt tubes
Yogurt is loaded with calcium, which is good for your teeth and bones. Some studies also suggest that the pH reduces the amount of active cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth. Putting tubes of yogurt in the freezer makes a treat that’s just about as tasty as ice-cream, without the mess. Kids love it, as well as parents. You can also keep them in the freezer when school starts back, and put them in lunch boxes knowing they’ll thaw out before its time to eat.
At Akron Smiles we want our patients to understand that the everyday nutritional choices that they make will affect the health of their teeth. You can enjoy lots of great food without having to sacrifice your smile. For more ideas, ask us about healthy snack foods for your teeth during your next trip to our office!