Power Up With an Afternoon Snack

Whether you need a pick-me-up at the office or your child needs an energy boost after school, a healthy snack can be just what you need to power through the afternoon.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offers these healthy snack ideas for the afternoon: 1. Munch on trail mix that contains dried fruit, nuts, low-sugar cereal and whole-grain pretzels, or a handful of nuts and raisins. 2. Dip into some low-fat yogurt or have your favorite fruit or fruit smoothie. 3. Enjoy veggies or pretzels dipped in hummus or peanut butter, or baked tortilla chips with salsa. 4. Crunch on whole-grain crackers with low-fat cheese, or enjoy a bowl of whole-grain cereal with skim milk. 5. Wrap a slice of low-sodium turkey around an apple slice or in a whole-wheat tortilla with some low-fat cheese, warmed up in the microwave. 6. Spread nut butter on celery sticks and top with raisins or dried cranberries. 7. For a beverage, stick to water, skim milk or 100 percent fruit juice.