For many, September means goodbye summer and hello back-to-school routines.

And with everyone’s hectic schedule, having a few healthy choices available will help answer the late afternoon cry, “I’m hungry!”

Snacks will help put off hunger and help you and the kids get through to the next mealtime.

Keep snacks on a designated shelf in the fridge or in a basket on the counter for convenience. It will also make them easy to grab on your way out the door, when you know sometime down the road you will be looking for nosh. Have something for your kids to eat after practice or to help you avoid the impulse by at the grocery store.

Over the weekend may be a good time to come up with a list of your favorites. Make it a family affair: brainstorm suggestions with your kids and have them help pre-bag the treats in individual portions. This is also a great time to talk about food and nutrition.

Choose whole foods and limit processed, packaged foods when possible. Whole foods will tend to have less sugar and more fiber which will fill you up.

Here are a few healthy suggestions to get you started. Share your ideas with us on our Facebook page.

- Fruit like bananas, apples, grapes … the list is endless. Try using peanut butter as a dip.
- Cut up veggies and use low fat salad dressing or hummus as a dip.
- Cheese and crackers
- Yogurt
- String cheese – look for low-fat
- Salsa with sliced cucumbers instead of chips
- Box of raisins
- Dried fruit
- Apple sauce
- Nuts like almonds, peanuts, walnuts
- Fat-free microwave popcorn
- Canned soup
- Granola bars (check the calories)
- Whole wheat pretzels
- Graham crackers
- Wheat crackers
- Animal crackers
- Low fat cottage cheese
- Instant oatmeal
- Cereal and milk
- Frozen fruit bars
- Chocolate milk (low fat)