Most kids snack between 1 and 3 times daily. These mini-mealtimes can either be an opportunity to increase your child's intake of fruits and veggies or they could be an unfortunate foray into the world of high fat and sugar. Arming yourself with information on serving sizes, calories, fat, and ingredients, can help you steer their menus so that they avoid packing on the pounds.

Barry Popkin, a nutrition professor at the University of North Carolina, collected and analyzed government data on the eating habits of over 31,000 children ages 2 to 18, from 1977 until 2006. His findings show that children consume around 586 calories from snacks per day and 2,111 calories per day total. He reported that they consume more French fries as snacks than vegetables.

Flavored Yogurts

It is recommended that adults eat Greek yogurts above all others in order to fulfill their necessary protein, calcium and probiotic needs. The light version of Greek yogurt has less sugar and more protein than regular dairy yogurt. Children don't usually care for the tangy natural flavor of Greek yogurt. Instead, food companies market to children with highly flavored and brightly colored products to catch their interest.