The haggling over school snacks and lunches is as old as, well, school lunches.

On one hand, children want to enjoy the foods they eat while in school. On the other, parents – not to mention teachers – want to ensure that students eat the right things to sustain them through a long day, and beyond that, for a long life. Many snack companies are joining with parents, teachers and healthcare professionals to battle the rising tide of childhood obesity. New products, ranging from bagged apple slices to fortified breads, reflect innovations in product development designed to satisfy both finicky kids and concerned adults.

Portion control and calorie counting are key elements of weight control. With this in mind, many companies, including Snyder’s of Hanover, have started to introduce 100-calorie packs. These packs mix the power of portion control with convenience and kid-friendly appeal.

In time for back-to-school season, Snyder’s of Hanover is adding two MultiGrain Sunflower Chip varieties to its line of 100-calorie snack packs: French Onion and Southwestern Cheddar. The wholesome, all-natural snacks provide up to 6 grams of whole grains per serving. Whole grains are the building block of government dietary recommendations.

While adults can take heart in the nutritional profile and convenience of the 100-calorie snack packs, when it comes to children, it’s still all about favor and crunch.  “The pretzels and chips in our new 100-calorie snack packs are our original delicious chips kids love and parents count on as part of a healthy diet,” said Claude O’Connor of Snyder’s of Hanover.  “We realize that one of the keys to combating obesity is portion control – the snack packs are a great way for parents to teach kids about portion control and also to help with their own.”

Meanwhile, beyond planning lunches and snacks that are both good and good for their kids, parents are facing other stresses as they head into another school year. Chief among those concerns are higher prices for everything from school supplies to clothing to grocery bills. As part of its back-to-school promotion, many food companies are teaming up to help ease grocery costs with special seasonal promotions.

For example, Juicy Juice, Egglands Best Eggs, Snyder’s of Hanover, Hormel’s Kids Kitchen and Parents Magazine have created a special back-to-school coupon booklet, with savings of more than $47. The booklet will be included in specially marked packages of Snyder’s of Hanover 100-calorie snack packs.

Just as better-for-you snacks are part of a long-term approach to healthy eating, parents know that they must plan ahead for their children’s future education. To that end, Snyder’s of Hanover is offering a chance to win a $3,000 scholarship. Consumers can find out more information and enter online at www.snydersofhanover.com.

For more information on Snyder’s of Hanover full line of 100-calorie snack packs available in pretzel sticks, minis, snaps and the new MultiGrain varieties or about the coupon book and scholarship offer, consumers can call (800) 233-7125 or visit the company Web site, www.snydersofhanover.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Copy the Story Link