What are healthy, high-protein snacks ideas for back to school?

Kids burn a lot of energy, and they need nutritious, high-protein snacks to power them on the field or at the playground.

Erin Good, a registered dietitian with the Iowa Beef Council, shares easy ideas on how to pack a healthy snack for the playground or after-school sports.

• Beef jerky is a smart snack choice. It’s full of protein, iron and zinc, important nutrients that help power kids through busy days and support immune and brain health, Good says.
• Dried fruits – like dried apricots and mango and freeze-dried apples. Kids love them because they are chewy, Good says.
• Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds or trail mix. Look for fun flavors like chocolate, ranch or chili-spiced in the snack aisle.
• Dried snack beans and peas, like Harvest Snaps green pea crisps.
• String cheese is packed with 8 grams of high-quality protein, plus important nutrients for growth and development, like calcium, potassium and B vitamins. It also helps kids consume the recommended three servings of dairy a day.

Whenever your family enjoys a high-protein snack, you can feel confident knowing that Iowa farmers work hard to provide safe, healthy food for your family.

“Farmers feed their own families the same beef they’re feeding you, the customer,” Good says. “They truly care about the animals, and they want to grow a high-quality product that also benefits the environment.”

To learn more about how Iowa farmers ensure meat quality, food safety and animal care, visit www.RealFarmersRealFoodRealMeat.com.