#ExtraAlert: 6 Budget-Friendly Pampasigla Baon for Your Child in School

Today, more and more children are growing up glued to screens instead of engaging in physical activity. As a result, their mental development becomes negatively affected, with results including developing shorter attention spans.

A recent study published in Canada found that kids exposed to more than two hours of screen time per day are five times more likely to exhibit behavioral problems, such as inattention or inability to concentrate.

This is especially tricky for school-age kids, who can feel sluggish as their energy drops during the day. It may not seem much, but this can seriously impede your kid’s learning processes, affecting his overall performance in school.

One of the many things you can do to curb sluggishness is to manage your child’s level of alertness by making a few healthy tweaks to his diet. Aside from providing three well-balanced meals, make sure to pack energy-rich baon to keep him alert and masigla throughout the day.

Here are six easy-to-prepare snack ideas for your school-age kids:

1. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich

Peanut butter is rich in protein and monounsaturated fats, or good fats, while jelly contains sugar–resulting in sweet-salty bites, kids will find hard to resist. For more fiber and carbohydrates, use whole-wheat bread instead of white bread.

2. Granola bars

Granola bars can be quick sources of energy but stay away from sugar bombs, or those with too much chocolate, jam, and artificial sweeteners. Go for whole grain and low sugar options with real ingredients like nuts, seeds, and dried fruits.

3. Chicken and cheese melts

This cheesy, low-carb snack is packed with flavor and protein. Just put grilled or roasted chicken strips and a slice of cheese on white or wheat bread! It’s delicious even when it’s not heated—just make sure you use hard or semi-hard cheeses, like cheddar, as they don’t go bad as quickly as softer, creamier ones.

4. Fruit cups

Fruits are a natural source of sugar and fiber, which gives the body a steady source of energy. Apples and bananas provide energy, while avocados give healthy fats. Meanwhile, strawberries and oranges are rich in vitamin C, which helps fight fatigue and stress.

5. Veggie sticks

Skip the chips and let your kid munch on vegetable sticks instead. Celery is a good source of vitamins A and C, as well as water, which helps hydrate your kid as he eats. Carrots are also packed with vitamin A and fiber. To make these more appetizing, try pairing them with blue cheese dip.

6. Hard-boiled egg

The humble egg offers many nutritional benefits: iron, protein, fat, vitamins A, D, E, and B12, as well as choline, which helps improve brainpower. There’s so much you can do with one hard-boiled egg: chop it up and turn into a salad, stuff slices inside a sandwich, or simply season with salt and pepper for a filling, nutritious snack.

To complete their baon, don’t forget to pack a nutritious drink that can also keep him alert and masigla throughout the day. We recommend fruity yogurt drink, Dutch Mill! It contains the Nu-3-io Goodness of milk, yogurt, and juice; as well as Vitamins B1 and B2 to support mental energy, and calcium for physical energy.

What's more, Dutch Mill was recently awarded the #SPSmartMomApproved seal after impressing parents from the Smart Parenting Village and Parent Chat groups, as well as their kids, who mainly gave plus points for the product’s taste and packaging.

Watch how Dutch Mill can help make your child extra sigla and alert for a fun-filled day in school:

Dutch Mill comes in five yummy flavors: strawberry, orange, super fruits, mixed fruits, and blueberry. To find out more, follow Dutch Mill Philippines on Facebook.