Setting a Healthy Snack Policy

Your school board voted to remove soft drink vending machines from your campus, student fundraising programs now sell wrapping paper instead of candy bars, and your school lunch program features a wide variety of healthful options, like fresh fruits and vegetables.

As an educator, you've done all you can to encourage your students to make healthful food choices....Or have you? Perhaps your classroom needs a "Healthy Snack Policy."

What is a "Healthy Snack Policy?"
A "Healthy Snack Policy" sets guidelines for the types of foods and beverages parents and other caregivers can send to school for consumption during recess or snack time and at class parties or other special school events and celebrations.

Why are healthy snack policies important?
Healthy snack policies help parents and other caregivers identify healthful snack foods for children. While most parents have good intentions when it comes to choosing snack foods for their children, many do not realize that many items that sound healthy really only provide empty calories and few essential nutrients.

What are the benefits of adopting a "Healthy Snack Policy?"
There are many benefits of healthy snack policies, including helping children gain a greater understanding of healthful eating habits, exposing children to a variety of healthful foods they may otherwise not eat, and improving children's as well as staff members' diets by including more nutrient-rich foods.

What types of foods and beverages can be counted as "healthy snacks?"
The following foods and beverages are nutrient-rich foods that contain essential nutrients often lacking in children's diets. These healthy snacks contain little or no added sugar, fat or salt. Eating these types of snack foods more often can significantly improve a child's diet.

Any fresh fruit or vegetable
100% fruit or vegetable juice
Canned and packaged fruit products packed in juice
Dried fruit
Nuts, like almonds or cashews
Low or nonfat milk
Low or nonfat yogurt
Low fat cheeses