As part of our ongoing commitment to the health and wellbeing of our students at DCSF, this week's Wellness Wednesday focuses on making simple, yet impactful, changes to snack habits. We all know that snacks are a part of daily life, but many store bought options can be packed with hidden sugars, salt, and fats. These can contribute to energy crashes, weight gain, and even affect mood and focus. By swapping out processed snacks for healthier alternatives, we can make significant improvements to both physical and mental health. 

One helpful tool to guide these changes is the NHS's Food Scanner app, which allows families to scan the barcode of food items and assess their nutritional value. This easy-to-use app provides information on sugar, salt, and fat content, helping to highlight where simple swaps can be made. By using this app, you'll be surprised to see how many everyday snacks contain excessive amounts of sugar and salt, which may not always be obvious from the packaging. It's a great way to become more aware of your choices and make better-informed decisions about what goes into your body. 

The app also suggests healthier alternatives, making it easy to replace less nutritious snacks with options that better support your child's growth and energy levels throughout the day. For example, if you regularly reach for a sugary cereal bar or a packet of crisps, you can easily find fruit based snacks, wholegrain crackers, or even homemade energy balls that provide essential nutrients without the added sugar. With the Food Scanner app, small swaps like these can lead to long-term improvements in overall health and wellbeing. 

We encourage all families to download the app and explore the variety of snack swaps available. It's not just about eating less sugar or salt, but about creating habits that will benefit your child's health now and in the future. 

https://www.nhs.uk/healthier-families/food-facts/healthier-food-swaps/ 

Let's work together to create healthier, happier lives for our children!