Try this - not that! Cookies for kids
Is it wrong that I'm writing this armed with a bar of chocolate? It's small and it's organic but I imagine I'd feel a whole lot more virtuous if I was tucking into a wholesome bowl of the quinoa I recommended to you last week.
However, as good as it is, quinoa is not going to get me through my current crisis of packing for a holiday with a new baby and a grumpy spouse.
I've always found packing a little stressful, with my exasperated husband unpacking my shoes as fast as I can slip them into the suitcase.
Now the pressure is on as I try to be realistic about what we need for two weeks abroad with a five-month old baby.
The problem is, my Mum has organised a grand tour of all our relatives and friends, which means our little one needs an outfit for every occasion!
Then of course we need the stroller, the car seat and the Baby Bjorn.
We also need books, toys, soothers and the 99 bibs required for a 12-hour flight with a teething baby.
To top it all off I've just found out that we have to taste our pre-prepared baby bottles as we go through security at the airport.
The thought of this is freaking me out a little! Formula is one thing, breast milk on the other hand...
However, this still has to be easier than travelling with a variety of snacks that a whimsical toddler will eat.
And it's on occasions such as long-haul flights that treats for kids really come into their own.
Every kid loves cookies, so it's nice to be able to treat them without worrying about mountains of sugar and artificial additives. Fortunately, as kids are so easily swayed by fun marketing, most health food companies have caught up and put together extremely appealing packaging.
Take a look at the products below
The Snackimals and Healthy Handfuls look just as good as the Keebler Animals but the nutrition facts are worlds apart.
The Snackimals do have the highest sodium content, but this is still relatively low (five percent daily value).
On the other hand, they have the lowest calorie content and the lowest amount of saturated fat and sugar. They are also made with whole-grain oats and have 100 percent natural ingredients.
Likewise, although they are a little too high in sugar, the Healthy Handfuls are another better option.
They too have a short, relatively wholesome ingredient list ¿ a big contrast to the Keebler cookies. The Keebler Animals have a whopping 5g of saturated fat per serving and are very high in sugar.
The ingredients include high fructose corn syrup, blue#1, blue#2 lake and yellow#6 so avoiding them is really a no-brainer - especially if your child is hyperactive.
As there are only three products detailed below and a huge amount of cookie options, if you get stuck when looking for something healthy, keep in mind that you want ingredients that are as natural as possible.
Also try to keep the saturated fat and sugar content as low as you can - see the box below for sensible guidelines!
The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns is a fully qualified Nutritional Therapist. She can be contacted at clinicalnutrition@gmail.com