Find healthy snacks for children

Dear Heloise: To Susan L., as a retired registered dietitian who specialized in pediatrics, I absolutely do not recommend popsicles as a snack. They are high in simple sugars and can be high in added sugar, with limited vitamins and minerals and no fiber. There are numerous other healthy snacks that are not high in sugar, such as hummus with vegetable sticks or cheese with whole-grain, low-sugar crackers. Although fresh fruit contains natural sugar, it is not sticky and has vitamins and fiber. — Dena G., via email

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PROCESSED FOODS

Dear Readers: We have another reader who presented their view on sticky sweets for children. Take a look below. — Heloise

Dear Heloise: At home, I see to it that my children eat only healthy food. Since I’m a stay-at-home mom, I see to it that junk food never crosses our threshold. However, you can’t stop kids from buying candy, sodas and chips when they are away from home. Some children may not really like some of the junk food that their friends eat, but they “go along to get along.”

I usually point out to my family that none of them have ever had a sick day, not even when COVID was rampant. They see a dentist annually, and of my three children, only one has a filling in her back molar. Genetics may play a roll in their health, but I believe that diet is very important. — Grace H., in Sioux City, Iowa

DRYER BALLS

Dear Heloise: I use dryer sheets when I do our laundry. I’ve heard about dryer balls. Do you recommend using them? If so, why? Is there anything I should look for when purchasing one? — Tim, in Omaha, Nebraska

Tim, dryer balls can be used many times, while a dryer sheet usually only has a one-time use. Economically, a dryer ball makes sense, and it works as well as dryer sheets. The only drawback that I can think of is when the dryer ball gets stuck in a sleeve. I’ve had to really work to get the ball out sometimes.

Dryer sheets have a second life when they are used not only for drying laundry, but for things like dusting and other creative tasks that my readers have come up with. — Heloise

CLEVER PILL STORAGE

Dear Heloise: Instead of buying one of the large pill sorters that are marked with the day of the week, for just a few dollars, I bought bead sorters from the craft aisle. I have 16 compartments that fit in a much smaller space, and I can label them appropriately. They’re especially easy to put in a suitcase when I’m going on a trip. — Carl H., in Port Charlotte, Florida

HARDENED BARS

OF SOAP

Dear Heloise: I’d like to add my two cents to the “bar of soap” saga. I have always used bar of soaps as opposed to shower gel. Every time I buy a six-pack of bars, I open the box at one end and leave it in my linen closet. It hardens the bars, and they last longer once I use them. It also gives off a nice fragrance in the closet! — Janet B., in Ohio

Janet, I have to admit, I love bars of soap. They usually carry such a nice scent, and once they are wet (even after drying out), they still smell nice. — Heloise