Special occasions celebrated at school are fun for everyone, but often these celebrations include treats that are loaded with sugar, salt, and/or saturated fat. Consider some of the healthier treats listed below for your child’s next school celebration. When available, choose whole grain options for fiber, a nutrient commonly deficient in children.
Nutritious Homemade Treat Ideas:
- Apple Slices & Dip (Nut butters, yogurt, etc.)
- Chocolate Dipped Fruit (Strawberries, bananas)
- Fruit & Cheese Kebabs
- Carrot Sticks & Dip
- Yogurt Parfaits
- Mini Pumpkin Muffins
- Mini Zucchini Muffins
Nutritious Packaged Treat Ideas:
- String Cheese & Whole Wheat Crackers
- Granola Bars (check the label for added sugar content)
- Popcorn
- Pretzels
- Squeezable Yogurt
- Dried fruit and Raisins
- 100% Fruit Roll-ups or Fruit Leathers
- Trail Mix, individually packaged
Children are at higher risk than adults for developing food borne illnesses. So, remember to always wash your hands before preparing food for children, and if you are not wrapping foods individually, include serving utensils.
Tips:
Contact your child’s school to see if they have any rules about foods brought into classrooms.
Ask your child’s teacher if there are any students with food allergies before deciding what to bring.
If a food requires refrigeration, contact your child’s teacher ahead of time to be sure that it can be stored properly.
