Magazine
School Snacks
Kid-friendly, Healthy, Quick and Easy Snack Ideas
Healthy Choices
- Choose vegetables and fruit often.
- If possible, include more than one food group.
- Serve fruit ready-to-eat.
- Let kids decide when they are full.
- Read food labels! For example, look for fat-free and low-fat dairy, whole grains, and snacks with no sugar added.
- 1 pound fresh spinach = 10 to 12 cups raw = 1 cup cooked
- 10 ounce package frozen spinach = 1 1/2 cups cooked
Safety Tips
- Wash hands before handling and eating snacks.
- Rinse all fresh fruits and vegetables before eating.
- Cold items should not sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
- When sharing snacks with others, check for any allergies.
- Children can choke on snack foods. Cut foods into small, easily chewed pieces and spread nut and seed butters thinly. Watch children of all ages closely whenever they are eating.
Snacks
- Crackers
- Salsa
- Bell Peppers
- Oranges
- Applesauce
- Pears
- Carrots
- Fruit Cups
- Bananas
- Cereal Bars
- Tomatoes
- Yogurt
- Trail Mix
- Cheese
- Apples
Healthy Snacks for Groups
Recipes
Cowboy Salad
Popeye Power Smoothie
The Parent-Teacher Connection
Every bite counts! Help kids eat more fruits and vegetables by bringing them into the classroom as a snack. Here’s how:
- Check to see if your school has any rules for bringing in food. Does anyone in the class have a food allergy or follow a special diet? Offer to provide a list of the ingredients in your snack.
- Keep it cool. Is a refrigerator available to store perishable snack ingredients?
- Make it easy and low cost. For example, giving each child a few slices of green and red apples might require only 4 to 6 apples.
- Team up with other parents to bring the ingredients needed for a recipe or snack. Try vegetables with ranch dip or trail mix with different kinds of dried fruit or cereals.
Kids Can!
When kids help prepare snacks, they are more likely to try them. Show kids how to:
- wash fruits or vegetables.
- prepare snack bags/cups.
- measure and mix ingredients.
- pour water to serve with the snacks.