The Best of the Worst Junk Foods - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

The Best of the Worst Junk Foods

  In a perfect world, all kids would happily eat apples and celery sticks as snacks. But, as all moms and dads know -- we certainly do not live in a perfect world. There are those dark times when junk food must prevail.

  We set out to find the "best of the worst" if you will... the healthiest possible packaged snacks sure to delight kids and parents.

  2 1/2 year old Calvin is a master fruit smoothie maker. It's easy for parents Maia and James to feed Calvin healthy snacks at home.

  Maia Lucier - Calvin's Mother: "It's not like there's a whole lot of choice."

  But the choices at the grocery store are wide-ranging... all that eye candy for the kids can make a mom's eyes roll and head spin.

  Maia Lucier/Calvin's Mother: "With both of us working, we try to go for the healthiest as possible snacks, and sometimes we have to rely on packaged stuff."

  Enter clinical dietitian -- Lisa Cimperman of University Hospitals Case Medical Center.

  "The kettle corn is really good."

  She's referring to a brand called "Popcorn, Indiana." No one is suggesting these snacks are as healthful as a handful of carrots, but according to Cimperman, they're way better than brownies.

  Lisa Cimperman - Clinical Dietitian, UH Case Medical Center: "Teaching children that you can have treats every once in a while and in moderation will go a long way towards making them healthy adults."

  Also on her list of the "best" packaged snack foods -- Bear Naked Trail Mix, Quaker Oatmeal 25% less sugar granola bars and pretty much anything made by Kashi.

  Lisa Cimperman - Clinical Dietitian, UH Case Medical Center: "A good rule of thumb is no more than 3 grams of fat for every 100 calories."

  And snacks should max out at 100 to 200 calories per serving.

  They're dietitian- and parent-approved snacks... ... that actually taste good!