BECKLEY — Little Debbie is smart. Like a fox. Much of the reason we reach for her snacks and others the angel on our shoulder tells us to avoid is because they’re pre-packaged, no knife necessary, and couldn’t tolerate a washing if you tried.

As Dr. Frank Comstock, author of Anti-Aging 101 poses, “What’s easier to eat, a bag of chips or a bag of apples?” The tragedy is, both children and their parents will have to ultimately pay the piper, the elf or Chester Cheetah for all the “now” convenience, and it’s generally a bill of bad health leading to a shorter life.

Comstock, a board certified physician and author, maintains sugar and ready-made snacks are “the devil;” high glucose levels can lead to premature aging, obesity, heart disease, cancer, dementia and just about everything else you want to avoid in life. 

Food manufacturers like Sargento cheese are encouraging consumers to avoid the devil through sinless snacking and clever packaging. Their low-fat mozzarella string cheese is relocating from bags that lay invisible in meat drawers to boxes standing at attention in your fridge, hoping they’ll beat out last night’s left over key lime pie to get you through to supper.

According to Sargento’s own consumer research, “75 percent of consumers consider quite a few to all of their snack choices unhealthy. That’s often because they’re grabbing what they see first, even if it’s not a healthy option, and fridge location matters in that choice.”

On the dry shelf, nuts distributor Emerald now packages almonds packed with vitamin E and dressed in a closet of flavors ranging sweet to savory, in easy-to-open, portable 100 calorie packs. Their slogan for the Cocoa Roast line is “Nutritious snacking just got a little sweeter!” A confessed chocoholic on-the go, I’ll add “and easier.”

Impressed by the wide selection of fruits and vegetables you’d have to walk blindfolded by to reach the pastry section, I consulted Randall Boyd, assistant produce manager at the Beckley Crossing Kroger about what else we parents can do to encourage healthier snacking for our kids and ourselves. His advice: a few of Relish Chef Jon Ashton’s prep tips and a bit of good old common sense are to credit for the easy does it suggestions here.

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Choose colorful bell peppers (green, red, yellow). Wash, clean out seeds and slice into individual bags or clear containers for easy, eye-level access in the fridge. If younger kids say “bleck” at first, turn snack time into a game of red-light, green-light using the pepper strips.

 Broccoli looks and tastes better if you cut the florets and blanch in boiling water for a few seconds, then drain and cool before bagging. It removes the chalky film, brightens the green, and the texture is still crispy for dipping.

 Wash, cut and strip celery of its strings to make it more appetizing as a snack.

 Choose colorful, seasonal and interesting sweets like pomegranates. Don’t be afraid of their natural packaging. Here’s how to open:

1. Cut the top crown.

2. Score the sections with your knife.

3. Open each section and use your fingers to loosen the edible seeds, called “arils” into a bowl of water.

4. Skim any white peel that floats to the top of the bowl and strain the seeds for eating. 

 Ditch the candy dish and pick up a fruit bowl for easy grabbing. Many parents put oranges and apples away to be forgotten in a produce drawer — all in the name of longevity. Like any good inventory, the goal is to move it faster. Beware of anything with an extended shelf-life; the longer it lasts, the more preservative-packed it is.

 On the citrus side, consider smaller satsuma or clementine oranges for easier peeling and sectioning for little hands.

 Go exotic. Mangoes and kiwi are produce staples these days, and both are delicious peeled and sliced. One medium-sized kiwi has more vitamin C for warding off colds than a grapefruit. Another healthy fruit in season at the local grocer is the Asian pear; somewhere between an apple and a pear in taste and texture, these can be ripe even when very firm to the touch. Ripe Asian pears will smell sweet and fragrant on the stands.

Little dippers

Dips, in moderation, can encourage healthier snacking by adding flavor and fun. Toss out the tortillas, pre-measure and store the following in individual serving cups or containers to choose alongside fresh cut vegetables:

 Ranch Dressing

 Salsa

 Guacamole

 Peanut Butter

 Hummus

Or try:

 Marinara sauce (to accompany an unbreaded mozzarella stick)

 Yogurt or unsweetened cinnamon applesauce (for fruit or whole-wheat toast wedges)



Short cuts

Stores like Kroger have recognized the need for healthy snacking and saving time. In response, they wash, cut and freshly package vegetables daily. You might pay a little more for the convenience, but it’ll pay higher dividends through healthy eating.