Schools can play a major role in helping students become fit, healthy and ready to learn. One way to accomplish this is for foods offered in schools to support lessons learned in the classroom regarding nutrition and physical activity. What better venue than schools-which have a great impact on children-to support the message that proper nutrition and physical activity are a key part of a healthy lifestyle? Positive examples of making healthy eating choices and encouraging physical activity should be visible throughout the school. School activities as well as cafeterias, vending machines, and after-school events offer opportunities for schools to reinforce the message that making healthy food choices and being physically active means a healthier body and a sharper mind.
Snack Ideas for School & Classroom Events
Remember, schools are responsible for helping students learn lessons about good nutrition and healthy lifestyles and students should practice these lessons during schools events and celebrations. Schools are also responsible for ensuring that foods provided or served to students are both healthy & safe. Therefore, when celebrations or activities occur during the school day, the use of non-homemade, pre-packaged, unopened items that contain both nutrition & ingredients labels is recommended.
Following is a list of healthy snack choices to consider for classroom events. Serving all healthy foods and incorporating physical activities make a powerful statement. Actions speak louder than words: Lead by example.
- Angel food cake topped with fresh fruit
- Applesauce or other fruit cups
- Animal crackers
- Apples with caramel dip
- Baby carrots and other vegetables with low fat dip
- Bagels with low fat cream cheese
- Baked chips
- Berries and other fruit with low fat topping
- Cereal bar
- Cereal
- Cheese kabobs
- Dried fruit
- Fruit Smoothies
- Fruit and cheese trays
- Fig Cookies
- Frozen Fruit Bars
- Frozen yogurt
- Granola bars
- Graham Crackers with topping
- Ham, cheese or turkey sandwiches or wraps with low fat condiments
- Hot soft pretzels
- Jell-o with fruit
- Kiwi or krispy rice treats
- Low fat popcorn
- Low fat yogurt
- Low fat pretzels
- Low fat pudding
- Muffins
- Mangos
- Mandarin Oranges
- Nectarines
- Oatmeal
- Oatmeal raisin cookies
- Parfaits
- Pizza with low fat toppings or with no extra cheese and no more than one meat
- Peaches
- Plums
- Pineapple
- Popsicle with 100% fruit juice
- Raisins
- Rice cakes
- Reduced fat cookies or snack cakes
- String cheese
- Sandwiches
- Strawberries
- Salsa and chips
- Trail mix
- Vanilla wafers
- Vegetables
- Watermelon
- Whole grain breads or crackers
Suggested Beverages
- Bottled water (including flavored water)
- Fruit juice made with 100% fruit juice
- Single-serve low fat or fat free milk (regular or flavored)
- 100% Vegetable juices
- Other low calorie/sugar free/non-caffeinated
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Misty Keller, Coordinator of School Health Services at 378-2147 or by email at .