Supermarket Shockers & Swaps: Kid Food Edition!
Think you're making smart choices when it comes to shopping for yourselfand your kids? Read on, and check out Hungry Girl's guilt-free swaps...
Cereal: Cap'n Crunch vs. Kashi Honey Sunshine
Sure, Cap'n Crunch doesn't appear to be super-sugary. But looks can be deceiving -- 12 grams of sugar per serving is actually pretty high for kids' cereals these days. A much better option is Kashi's Honey Sunshine cereal. Each 3/4-cup serving has HALF the sugar and packs a nice amount of fiber (5 grams) and protein (2 grams). Not to mention, it's all-natural and features seven whole grains. And the taste is very similar to Cap'n Crunch. Go, Kashi!
More from Hungry Girl: Family-friendly recipes!
Fruit Drinks: SunnyD Tangy Original vs. Capri Sun Roarin' Waters
SunnyD is just a juice drink -- how bad could it be? While it's a better pick than most regular sodas, every 8-oz. serving contains a whopping 14 grams of sugar! You're WAY better off buying Capri Sun Roarin' Waters. Each pouch has half the calories (30) and nearly half the sugar. It's totally kid-friendly (you get to stab a straw into your juice pouch!), but it's also perfect for parents on the go.
Bread: Arnold Country White Bread vs. Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Sandwich Bread in Soft White
The problem with Arnold Country White Bread is that the two slices it takes to make a sandwich amounts to 240 calories and 3 grams of fat -- and that's before you load the sandwich with deli meats and cheese! You're much better off going with Pepperidge Farm's new Goldfish Sandwich Bread in Soft White. Not only are these bread slices adorable (they look like smiling goldfish -- CUTE!!!), but they're also a smart pick nutritionally. Each "slice" is actually two adjoining pieces (just like those trendy, flat sandwich rolls), with just 120 calories and 2g fat, plus 3g fiber and 3g protein. Nice!
More from Hungry Girl: Everything you need for awesome bagged lunches!
Fruit Snacks: Fruit Gushers vs. Funky Monkey Snacks
Just because Gushers have the word "fruit" in the name, don't let that fool you into thinking they're good for you. They're "fruit flavored" and full of added sugar. Instead, buy freeze-dried fruit (100 percent real fruit!), like Funky Monkey Snacks. These come in fun flavors (such as JiveALime and Pink Pineapple) and colorful kid-friendly pouches. Plus, there's one full serving of fruit in each bag. You'll also find some great freeze-dried-fruit options in the baby food aisle. (Yes, you read that right!)
Crunchy Snacks: Pretzels vs. 94% Fat-Free Microwavable Popcorn
Although pretzels are lower in fat than potato chips, they have very little nutritional value and aren't that filling. So switch out those pretzel sticks for some 94 percent fat-free microwavable popcorn. You'll get tons of fiber (4 to 5 grams) plus some protein (3 to 4 grams) in every serving. Enjoy a single-serving bag solo, or make a larger bag and watch a movie with your family... Guilt-free viewing!
More from Hungry Girl: HG's Ultimate Movie-Viewing Snack Mix!
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