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