Snacks and Treats

A Note from the Nurse

Killian School Health Council Nutrition Guidelines

Concerning Snacks and Treats at School

After discussing our concern for the health and well-being of our students, as well as carefully studying the Smart Snacks in School guidelines, the Killian Elementary School Health Council (KESHC) drafted new school guidelines regarding the presence of sweet snacks and unhealthy foods coming into the school for  various activities, celebrations, and rewards. Our concern was that our school community was not modeling, nor demonstrating to our students, our dedication to making the very same healthy food choices that we teach and promote in our classroom.

While we do understand that there are special occasions when it is enjoyable to celebrate with sweets, too often there are occurrences when these foods are being brought in for a morning snack or a birthday treat. It is not uncommon for a single class to have cupcakes, ice cream cups, or donuts come in two or three times in a single week. While unhealthy, this also compromises the obligation we have to our students’ families who prefer to offer their children these types of food in moderation or not at all.

After much discussion, the KESHC has drafted the following changes to the current policy to become effective as of August 1, 2015: Sweet items such as cakes, cookies, and ice cream will be reserved for the two class celebrations that take place before winter break and before the end of the school year.

This will provide two fun opportunities to build community through celebration while enjoying special treats.

If parents would like to send in a cookie or cupcake for their child’s birthday, it needs to be for their child only. If parents would like to have some type of treat to share with the whole class we ask that they consider pencils, erasers, stickers, or a snack from the Smart Snacks approved list on the back of this notice and available in the front office.

School staff will assist anyone who may bring these types of snacks for a birthday, etc.

They will do this by offering a copy of the KESHC guidelines and asking that the treats be returned home for later celebration with friends, family, and neighbors.

Some classes elect to have a morning snack when they have a late lunch time. We ask that these morning snacks be healthy choices that will fuel the students’ minds and bodies. Examples include fruit, yogurt, string cheese, or vegetables such as carrot or celery sticks. If you are providing snacks for the whole class, please choose a snack from the approved Smart Snacks list available in the front office.

We greatly appreciate everyone’s support in creating a healthy environment for our students!

Smart Snacks

Below are some healthy snack options for you to consider for birthdays or other class events.

Unfortunately it is hard for us to approve homemade items for classroom distribution. Please remember to be mindful of potential peanut, nut, egg, milk, or other food allergies. Please check with teachers before serving any food to students.

For more detailed information, see http://tools.healthiergeneration.org/calc/calculator/

Snack suggestions: Fresh Fruit, Yogurt or Gogurt sticks, String Cheese, Sugar-free popsicles, and 100% Juice Boxes.

Listed below are specific products and items to give you more detailed examples of Smart Snacks approved in State legislation:

Nutri Grain Blueberry Bar                                                              Del Monte Mixed Fruit Tube

Nutri Grain Apple Cinnamon Bar                                                   Del Monte Strawberry Fruit Tube

Nutri Grain Strawberry Bar                                                            Baked Lays Regular Chips - .875 oz.

Special K Red Berries Bar                                                            Baked Lays BBQ Chips- .875 oz.

Elf Grahams – 1 oz. package                                                        Baked Cheetos Crunchy- .875 oz.

Scooby Doo Graham Sticks – 1 oz. package                               Sun Chips Multigrain- 1 oz.

Cheez-Its Whole Grain – 1 oz. package                                       Sun Chips Garden Salsa- 1 oz.

Keebler Animal Crackers – 1 oz. package                                    Sun Chips Harvest Cheddar- 1 oz.

Quaker Oats Apple & Cinnamon Granola Bar                              Trix Cereal Bar                     

Quaker Oats Oatmeal Raisin Granola Bar                                   Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal Bar

Quaker Chewy Granola Bar                                                          Apple Cinnamon Cheerios Bar

Pretzel Goldfish - .75 oz. package

Welch’s Fruit Snack Mixed Fruit – 1.5 oz. package

Whole Grain Cheddar Goldfish – 1 oz. package

Giant Goldfish Cinnamon Graham - .9 oz. package

Fruit Roll-Ups S’berry Reduced Sugar- .5 oz.