The afternoons are prime times for "snack attacks."

Parents, regardless of their time management or planning skills, know that it’s crucial to be prepared when a child is in need of a snack.

The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension recommends offering two or more of the five major food groups.

Here are some more ideas:

• Cut apples into wedges and dip in yogurt or peanut butter.
• Allow children to sprinkle cinnamon on top of applesauce.
• Make a fruit smoothie. For example, blend yogurt, banana and orange juice.
• Cut a kiwi in half and have children scoop out the fruit with a spoon as they eat.
• Vegetable sticks (carrots, celery, cucumber, squash) with low fat dip. Do not serve carrots and cucumber to children age 3 and younger; it may cause choking.
• Ready-to-eat cereals
• Tangerine sections
• Mini yogurt cups
• Cherry tomatoes cut in small pieces
• Steam broccoli, green beans or sugar snaps (cut in small pieces) with low fat dip.

Need more ideas or recipes? Be sure to check out the variety of cookbooks available at your local branch of the Hall County Library System.

Free food series offers meal ideas

Families continue to enjoy a variety of recipes through the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program "Food Talk" series.

The free program, offered by the Hall County Extension office, shows area children and adults how to eat healthy on a budget.

During the summer, we visited the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hall County, The Academy Child Development Center, Greater A Manger Community Outreach Center and Gainesville Middle School.

And guess what? Recipe samples are a highlight of the nutrition sessions for youths and adults.

This summer students enjoyed recipes such as Chicken Divan, 4-Fruit Smoothie and Creamy Pineapple Pudding. They were very eager to share the recipes with their families.

Adult participants who complete the lesson series receive a special Food Talk cookbook plus a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension EFNEP certificate.

The cookbook also includes sample menus using the program recipes and tips on involving children in food preparation activities.

A variety of topics, ranging from food safety to planning "stress-free" mealtimes are also covered during sessions.

Where can you find Food Talk? Sessions are available for schools, child care centers, places of worship, youth groups and community outreach programs/wellness fairs.

We’re also available for child care and food service employee trainings and workshops.

Sandra Stringer is a nutrition educator with the UGA Cooperative Extension office in Hall County. Contact: 770-535-8290. Her column appears biweekly on Wednesdays and on gainesvilletimes.com/life.