Snack suggestions:

When it is your child’s turn to provide the snack for her/his class, you may welcome some ideas for healthy, nutritious foods. Children benefit from wholesome, non-processed foods.  Foods containing a lot of refined sugars (including high fructose corn syrup) provide no valuable nutrition, may inhibit learning, and are extremely habit forming.  Below is a list of snack suggestions based on what has worked well at the Co-op.  Please note that cupcakes, donuts, and sweet treats should be limited as much as possible to your child’s birthday celebration and holiday parties.  In addition, if your child has a food allergy, please inform his or her teacher so that this information can be shared with other parents who will be supplying the snack for the class. 

• cheese sticks, cheese and crackers
• fresh fruit, fruit salad, sliced fruit with whipped cream, fruit smoothies (frozen grapes have been very popular!)
• pizza
• trail mixes (Back to Basics on Main Street in E.G. has an abundant selection of bulk dried foods for make-your-own mixes i.e. seeds, raisins, dried fruits, yogurt or carob-coated fruits)
• cut veggies with yogurt or cheese dips
• dried fruit sticks, 100% fruit (be careful of the “fruit” sticks that are mostly all sugar and corn syrup)
• mini bagels and cream cheese
• yogurt, yogurt sticks, yogurt sundaes
• cereal, granola, and fruit bars
• 100% apple sauce
• rice cakes (try cheese or other flavored varieties)
• popcorn, baked tortilla chips
• wholesome muffins or cookies
• If making cupcakes, try omitting the frosting and candy; instead try whipped cream or a light dusting of confectioners sugar.

Please keep in mind that snacks do not have to be individually packaged.

Recommended children's literature: click here.