It’s National Animal Crackers Day.
The Animal Cracker: A well-known kid-friendly snack that makes both kids and adults smile, presented in the shape of friendly circus animals in fun, colorful, strategically marketed packaging. I used to be a fan of these critters, too. I don’t mean to rain on their parade by bashing them on their very own holiday, but I do want to make you aware of other snacks that are healthier options for your body, brain and waistline. If you insist on partaking in this holiday, I’d like to provide a few ideas of how to incorporate this ubiquitous treat by pairing them with other foods that make for a more balanced snack.
I call them a “treat” because in reality, animal crackers are pure sugar with very few nutrients. Animal crackers, like any carbohydrate, convert to glucose (sugar) the instant they reach your bloodstream, therefore they have the ability to spike your blood sugars if eaten alone, which sets you up for mood swings, cravings and weight gain (Didn’t realize the animal cracker was so powerful!?) But if you insist on celebrating this holiday, then pair a handful of them with a healthy fat and quality protein source for a more balanced snack. Here are a few ideas (keeping the PFC (Protein, Fat, Carb) concept in mind:
- Handful of animal crackers, handful of nuts and a hard boiled egg
- Handful of animal crackers dipped into peanut butter with a cheese stick
- Small bowl of cottage cheese topped with animal crackers and slivered almonds
- A few slices of deli meat with animal crackers with almond butter spread
An even better choice would be to replace the animal crackers with a nutrient-packed carbohydrate source, such as a piece of whole fruit or fresh vegetables. I would recommend one of these snacks:
- Apple slices with almond butter and a hard boiled egg
- Half a cup of tuna salad made with real mayonnaise and a handful of grapes
- Turkey with avocado spread wrapped around a pickle
- A dried beef stick with raw veggies dipped in cream cheese
Celebrate this day by pairing the special treat of animal crackers with a healthy fat and protein, or leave them with the rest of their animal family and opt for a nutrient-dense, balanced snack!
For meal plans, you’ll love our 50 Days of PFC, where it’s all laid out for you so you know what to eat for 50 full days. We take away the burden of having to figure out what to eat and lay it all out in one convenient e-guide (we have one for adults, and one for kids, too!)
