Healthy Snack Guidelines
When your child provides snacks for the entire classroom, snacks must not contain peanuts or peanut by-products. In addition, all class snacks including birthday treats must, by state mandate, be nutritious. No cupcakes, cookies, etc.
We know this is a big change. Here are a few ideas to help you keep your snacks kid-friendly and nutritious.
Cut-up fruit – apples, bananas, melons, pears, etc.
Dried fruits – raisins, cranberries, apples, apricots
Fresh fruit slices – cantaloupe, honey dew, watermelon pineapple, oranges, tangelos.
nectarines, peaches, kiwi, plums, pears, mangos, etc.
Fruit Salad –
Frozen fruit pops with fruit juice or fruit as the first ingredient
Frozen grapes & melon chunks
Frozen applesauce to a slushy consistency
Fruit Smoothies made with fat free or low-fat milk
Single servings of applesauce, fruit cocktail, etc.
Raw vegetable sticks/slices with low-fat dressing or yogurt dip
Cut-up vegetables – celery, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, etc.
Veggies on the Go – see recipe
Shish Kababs made with alternating fruits & vegetables/ cheese cubes, cold meat, peppers, pickles, etc.
Crackers or breads with tuna spread, cheese, cream cheese, etc.
Pretzels
Rice cakes
Low-fat muffins
Mini bagels with cream cheese
Bread sticks with marinara
Yogurt or fruit parfaits
Gogurts
Bag of Teddy Grahams with Yogurt
String cheese, cheese cubes, single-serving cottage cheese
Individual cheese-cracker packages
Dry cereal mix
Cereal and low-fat milk
Party mix – combination of dry cereal, raisins, pretzels, etc.
Popcorn
To learn more about children’s nutrition, please explore www.mypyramid.gov