It is hard to believe that the summer has come and gone so quickly. It seems as if we had just finished the school year and here we are about to start a new one. Crazy Huh? But it is what it is and as hard as we might try we can not push back the calendar. Time will, and must, march on.
So, as we enter into a new school year, I thought it wise to help the parents of school aged children, especially those in the elementary grades, with ideas on what you can pack your child for snack.
One of the biggest issues that teachers have with their students, and their ability to remain focused through the WHOLE day, are some of the items that are being packed for the mid-morning or early afternoon snack time.
Cookies, candy, chips and other easy to pack foods that may satisfy a sweet tooth or a quick craving may seem fine on the outside, but when it is consumed by our children it can have a very negative effect on how they do in school. It goes without saying that we want our children to do well in school, but we don’t always set them up the proper way for them to succeed. Here are some healthy suggestions that are easy to pack and will help both your child succeed and their teachers maintain their sanity.
1. Trail Mix – This is available in all kids of mix varieties. From all nut, all fruits, and a combination with small chocolate candies. This gives your child a variety of flavors and textures as well as a shot of protein to help them get through the day and to the next meal.
2. Granola Bar – Much like the Trail Mix, a granola bar has nuts, oats and fruit, as well as chocolate and/or peanut butter. The other nice thing about a granola bar is it fits in the palm of the hand, and generally does not make a mess on the floor.
3. String Cheese – Other than having some nutritional value, ie. Protein and some calcium, it is just darn fun to eat. Pulling the cheese from top to bottom in little strings, hence the name string cheese, will make the snack last longer, and can create a little friendly competition to see who can pull off the thinnest, longest string.
4. Popcorn – Here is a great choice for a snack, but it is important to think of the teacher on this one. Popcorn as a snack should be pre-popped and in a sandwich bag. Teachers do not have time to go and pop 10 to 15 to 30 bags of microwave popcorn, and most elementary students don’t have access to a microwave in school. Unless they have one packed in their oversized book bag. Just kidding. Please don’t send your child to school with a microwave.
5. Fruit Snacks – These are easy to find and easy to put in a book bag, but be careful about what the package means by “fruit.” Many have only a flavoring and very little actual nutritional value. They may be fun to eat, but the sugar content, and lack of protein, will not help your child make it through the day. Instead, try sending them with actual fruit, snack sized that is.
6. Veggies – I know, “What child wants to be eating carrots and/or celery while everyone else in class is eating the “good stuff.” Well, maybe that child can be the catalyst to start a healthy eating craze in the classroom. Every school, every class needs a leader who is willing to step outside the norm and show the rest of the world that veggies are cool! I know, I stretched on that one a bit, but they are good and healthy.
I hope that these six, quick suggestions will be helpful, or perhaps stir your own imagination as to what to pack your child for a school snack. When you are looking for packaged snack foods, please take the time to read the labels. Watch out for items that are full of sugar, and nothing else. We want to feed our children snacks that will help them maintain their focus through the day. A good mix of carbohydrates and protein will go much further than a plain block of sugar we call candy. It is never easy to pack in a way that will create harmony with our children, but as we send them off to learn the ABC’s and 123’s, let us do so in a way that will set them up to succeed and feel good at the same time.
Have a Blessed day, and welcome back to school!
So, as we enter into a new school year, I thought it wise to help the parents of school aged children, especially those in the elementary grades, with ideas on what you can pack your child for snack.
One of the biggest issues that teachers have with their students, and their ability to remain focused through the WHOLE day, are some of the items that are being packed for the mid-morning or early afternoon snack time.
Cookies, candy, chips and other easy to pack foods that may satisfy a sweet tooth or a quick craving may seem fine on the outside, but when it is consumed by our children it can have a very negative effect on how they do in school. It goes without saying that we want our children to do well in school, but we don’t always set them up the proper way for them to succeed. Here are some healthy suggestions that are easy to pack and will help both your child succeed and their teachers maintain their sanity.
1. Trail Mix – This is available in all kids of mix varieties. From all nut, all fruits, and a combination with small chocolate candies. This gives your child a variety of flavors and textures as well as a shot of protein to help them get through the day and to the next meal.
2. Granola Bar – Much like the Trail Mix, a granola bar has nuts, oats and fruit, as well as chocolate and/or peanut butter. The other nice thing about a granola bar is it fits in the palm of the hand, and generally does not make a mess on the floor.
3. String Cheese – Other than having some nutritional value, ie. Protein and some calcium, it is just darn fun to eat. Pulling the cheese from top to bottom in little strings, hence the name string cheese, will make the snack last longer, and can create a little friendly competition to see who can pull off the thinnest, longest string.
4. Popcorn – Here is a great choice for a snack, but it is important to think of the teacher on this one. Popcorn as a snack should be pre-popped and in a sandwich bag. Teachers do not have time to go and pop 10 to 15 to 30 bags of microwave popcorn, and most elementary students don’t have access to a microwave in school. Unless they have one packed in their oversized book bag. Just kidding. Please don’t send your child to school with a microwave.
5. Fruit Snacks – These are easy to find and easy to put in a book bag, but be careful about what the package means by “fruit.” Many have only a flavoring and very little actual nutritional value. They may be fun to eat, but the sugar content, and lack of protein, will not help your child make it through the day. Instead, try sending them with actual fruit, snack sized that is.
6. Veggies – I know, “What child wants to be eating carrots and/or celery while everyone else in class is eating the “good stuff.” Well, maybe that child can be the catalyst to start a healthy eating craze in the classroom. Every school, every class needs a leader who is willing to step outside the norm and show the rest of the world that veggies are cool! I know, I stretched on that one a bit, but they are good and healthy.
I hope that these six, quick suggestions will be helpful, or perhaps stir your own imagination as to what to pack your child for a school snack. When you are looking for packaged snack foods, please take the time to read the labels. Watch out for items that are full of sugar, and nothing else. We want to feed our children snacks that will help them maintain their focus through the day. A good mix of carbohydrates and protein will go much further than a plain block of sugar we call candy. It is never easy to pack in a way that will create harmony with our children, but as we send them off to learn the ABC’s and 123’s, let us do so in a way that will set them up to succeed and feel good at the same time.
Have a Blessed day, and welcome back to school!
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