04/28/2026
This week’s is all about fuel that lasts for your little one, featuring Gus’s dietician approved pairings!
Pairing carbohydrates with protein helps support steady, lasting energy so kids can stay active, focused, and ready for whatever comes next.
Balanced Snack Pairings
• + cheese
• Turkey stick + dried apricots
• + apple slices
• almond crackers + mozzarella snacking cheese
• apple chips + Gus’s peanut butter
• popcorn + nuts
• Gus’s Trail mix
And you can always build your own balanced snacks with 3 Easy Steps:
1 Pick a carb for quick energy
2 Add protein for satiety
3 Combine both for steady energy!
Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy, especially for the brain and muscles!
Carbs break down quickly, giving kids the fuel they need to think, move, and play. That’s why they are great before school, sports, or anytime a quick boost of energy is needed.
• Fresh fruit, dried fruit, or fruit pouches
• Crackers, pretzels, popcorn, pita chips or other whole grain-based snacks
• Granola bars, cereal snacks, bars
Protein helps support growth and keeps kids feeling full longer.
Protein digests more slowly than carbohydrates, helping reduce crashes and support steadier energy between meals.
• Yogurt or kefir
• Cheese sticks or cottage cheese cups
• Eggs
• Nuts, seeds, or nut butter
• Hummus
• Bean or legume-based snacks
• Jerky or meat sticks
Snacks that have both carbohydrates and protein can help support more stable energy throughout the day, which may help kids avoid the mid-morning or afternoon “crash” and stay more consistent in their mood and activity levels.
Snacks that have both carbohydrates and protein can help support steadier energy between meals, reducing dips in how kids feel as the day goes on. We’re fighting midday crashes one snack at a time!
