Healthy School Treats
Holidays, birthdays and other special events are often celebrated with classmates at school. With the advent of school wellness policies the usual cupcake or cookie may not be welcome in the classroom. Always check with the teacher to see what is acceptable and if there are any children with allergies to be considered. There are other options to the high sugar, high fat treats we have become accustomed to. Try some of the following fun food treats:
- Celery stalks filled with reduced-fat peanut butter and raisins. Kids call these "ants on a log."
(A variation on this is to use low-fat cream cheese). - Fruit kebobs with low-fat yogurt dip or whipped cream.
- Frozen fruit snacks made with 100-percent juice.
- Individual yogurt parfaits made ahead or in the class as part of the celebration. Use low-fat or non-fat yogurt, fresh fruit and whipped cream to top.
- Mini peanut butter and jelly sandwiches made with cookie cutters.
- Low-fat cheese and crackers with the cheese cut into interesting shapes.
Make fun and education the focal point of classroom celebrations, not food. Treats like these will teach healthy Lessons that will become life-long habits.