Snack and Food Ideas

  • USDA School Snack Guide – Smart Snacks

    Smart Snack Standards

     

    Ideas for Healthy Snacks and Party Foods

    Please be sure to email you child's teacher to arrange for any special snacks for the class. Remember to ask about any food allergies in the classroom when planning to send in snacks and try to accommodate as possible. We prefer store bought, prepackaged treats due to the number of food allergies and sensitivities in the classrooms. A great resource for food allergy aware classrooms - http://snacksafely.com/snack-guide-intro-2011-09/

    Whenever possible, snacks that are more difficult to serve or are messy should be individually packaged or prepared as there is generally no time to serve individual portions in the classroom. You can use baggies, small disposable cups, Popsicle sticks for kabobs, etc. to make individual portions. Dry snacks such as crackers, popcorn or the like can be handed out by the teachers but the teachers may not be able to take time to cut and serve or clean up messy or hard to eat items. Snack time is only 5 or 10 minutes long and is often a working break.

    Please call or email your child’s teacher at least the day before sending in snacks and especially to arrange for accommodation if you would like to send in fruits and vegetables or other items that are highly perishable or need refrigeration.

    1. Any fruits
    2. Any Vegetables
    3. Low fat cheese -cubes,sticks or slices
    4. Low fat yogurt or pudding -drinks, cups, or tubes
    5. Whole grain, low fat, no trans fat protein or cereal bars such as Quaker 90 calorie or 25% less sugar Chewy Granola Bars, Kellog Nutrigrain Bars, various Kashi Bars, etc....
    6. Whole grain or part whole grain, trans fat free and preferably low sodium crackers and snacks such as Triscuit Reduced Fat, Whole Grain Ritz, Graham Crackers, Teddy Grahams or Stix, Guiltless Gourmet Popcorn, Special K Multi Grain Crackers, Pepperage Farm Whole Grain Goldfish, Kashi TKC crackers, etc...
    7. Whole grain cereals such as Oatmeal Squares, Life Cereal, Bite Sized Mini Wheats (the chocolate flavor is delicious!), Cinnamon Toast Crunch, etc...
    8. Whole grain breads or bagels 
    9. Low fat dressings and dips -Individual portions for dipping
    10. Nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds
    11. Nut or seed butters -Individual portions for dipping
    12. Frozen treats -low fat yogurt or pudding pops and 100% juice bars
    13. 100% fruit juices -no more than 4-6 oz per student

     

    The following sites may be fun and interesting for further guidance.

    -          http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/

    -          http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/DietaryGuidelines/2010/PolicyDoc/PolicyDoc.pdf

    -          http://www.cspinet.org/nah/wwheat.html

    -          http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0813/is_5_27/ai_62494972/?tag=content;col1

    -          http://health.kaboose.com/ellie-krieger-great-food-healthy-family/index.html

    -          http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_center/healthy_eating/cereal_bars.html

    -          http://stickygooeycreamychewy.com/2011/08/16/whole-grain-krispie-granola-bars-recipe/

     
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