Snacks, Parties, and School

Snacks are important for providing children with nutrients to support growth and learning. Parties are a fun opportunity to celebrate. However, school snacks and parties are not required to be cupcakes, ice cream, potato chips, and soda pop. With a little imagination, snacks and parties can be fun and still provide healthy, nutrient-rich foods.

However, if each student brings in cake for his/her birthday, eating cake becomes a regular occurrence. All students with birthdays in the same month should celebrate on one day. Try to limit parties with cake and other sugary or high fat foods to less than once per month.

Examples of Healthy Snacks

Baked Cheetos, Baked Doritos, Baked Lay’s, Baked Ruffles, Munchies, Goldfish, graham crackers, Nabisco 100 Calorie packs, fruit snacks, pretzels, Ritz chips, Teddy Grahams, crunchy granola bars, string cheese, fresh fruit, 100% fruit snacks, fresh veggies, sandwiches (ham, turkey, low-fat cheese, and low-fat condiments), low-fat puddings, low-fat yogurt, trail mix, low-fat fudge bar, Mayfield sherbet Push-Ups, applesauce, Jell-O cups, sunflower seeds, angel food cake, Pop Tart (one strawberry, frosted brown-sugar cinnamon, or frosted blueberry), low-fat muffins, and most any low-fat ice cream.

Please note: Snack time will be observed by CSH/School Nurse.

Classroom party ideas are available from the University of California Cooperative Extension office in Ventura County and their California Children’s 5 Day Power Play! Campaign.

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