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 Food Service Home What's for Lunch mylunchmoney.com Nutrition-Wellness Policy Reglas de nutrición Free and Reduced Lunch |
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Food Service: Healthy Party Ideas
The Humboldt County School District Nutrition and Wellness Policy does not exclude parties and celebrations, it just provides guidelines of what food items may be offered to our students. The information below states the benefits of healthy celebrations and some ideas for healthy party ideas/snacks.
Typically, foods for school celebrations include cupcakes, candy, cookies and soda. So what's the harm? There is nothing wrong with an occasional treat, but unhealthy choices have become the norm rather than the exception. When teachers specifically ask, parents will supply healthy supplies for celebrations. Remember to check for food allergies and inform parents about foods to leave out to accommodate these special needs.
Overall, our children's eating habits are poor. Only two percent of children meet all Food Pyramid recommendations. Most children do not eat enough fruits, vegetables or whole grains. Obesity rates among children are on the rise, with serious health consequences. Constant exposure to low-nutrient foods makes it difficult for children to learn how to make healthy food choices. By providing students with nutritious choices wherever food is available (including the classroom), schools can positively influence children's eating habits.
Benefits of Healthy Celebrations
Healthy Kids Learn Better: Research clearly demonstrates that good nutrition is linked to better behavior and academic performance. To provide the best possible learning environment for children, schools must also provide an environment that supports healthy behaviors.
Provides Consistent Messages: Providing healthy classroom celebrations demonstrates a school's commitment to promoting healthy behaviors. It supports the classroom lessons students are learning about health, instead of contradicting them. Healthy celebrations promote positive lifestyle choices to reduce student health risks and improve learning.
Promotes a Healthy School Environment: In order to positively change eating behaviors, students need to receive consistent, reliable health information and ample opportunity to use it. Healthy celebrations are an important part of providing a healthy school environment.
Creates Excitement About Nutrition: Children are excited about new and different things, including fun party activities and healthy snacks (see below for ideas). School staff and parents need not worry that children will be disappointed if typical party foods aren't served in the classroom. Holiday treats and traditional birthday parties with cake will still be available at home.
Celebration Ideas
Themes Food Ideas
General Ideas: #note: peanut butter, nuts may be allergenic
- Focus on the holiday, person, or event rather than the food.
- Plan creative experiences such as art, music, or simple food preparation.
- Plan party games and activities. Ask parents to provide game supplies instead of food.
- Involve students in planning and preparing by making decorations and favors.
- Avoid using food as rewards or prizes.
- Air-popped popcorn
- Pretzels
- Crackers and peanut butter#
- Baked chips and salsa
- Cut up fruit with yogurt dip
- Cut up veggies with yogurt/ranch dip
- Low fat breakfast or granola bars
- Trail/cereal mix (whole grain, low-sugar cereals mixed with dried fruit, pretzels, etc.)
- Nuts and seeds#
- 1% milk
- 100% fruit juice
- Sparkling water
Birthday Parties
- Honor the child with a special button, badge, or crown.
- Allow the child to be "first" at something that day.
- Instead of food, ask the parents to donate a book for the classroom or school library in the birthday child's name.
- Have the parents read it to the class.
- Sing "Happy Birthday!"
- Pizza with low-fat toppings (vegetables, lean ham, Canadian bacon), pizza dippers with marinara sauce
- Ham, cheese or turkey sandwiches or wraps (with low-fat condiments)
- Low-fat pudding, low-fat yogurt, squeezable yogurt, yogurt smoothies, yogurt parfaits or banana splits (yogurt and fruit topped with cereal, granola or crushed graham crackers)
- Quesadillas or bean burrito with salsa
Halloween
There's more to Halloween than just candy.
- Explore the history and legends behind Halloween.
- Make homemade masks.
- Roasted pumpkin seeds
- Pumpkin bread muffins
Thanksgiving
- Give thanks for what we have and for the people we have in our lives. Write a letter expressing our gratitude to someone special.
- Explore gratitude through poetry, art, or writing.
- Nut# and dried fruit trail mix
- Corn bread
Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa
Community outreach is a natural activity at this time of year. Use money
that would be spent on food for a worthy community cause.
Examples:
- Decorate pillowcases for a homeless shelter.
- Make holiday cards for a nursing home.
- Collect animal treats for the animal shelter.
- Popcorn mixed with red and green peanut# M & M's
Valentine's Day
- Ask each student to write a positive attribute of each classmate and pass them out for valentines.
- Explore ways that love manifests through poetry, art, or writing.
- Angel food cake topped with fresh strawberry slices
St. Patrick's Day
- Teach an Irish step dance.
- Explore the legends and history behind St. Patrick's Day.
Easter/Spring
- Explore themes of renewal, nature's cycles, and new growth through reading, art, writing.
- Plant bulbs in the school yard in the Fall so they can be experienced in the Spring.
- Fill baskets with books and school supplies.
- Fruit salad with yogurt
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Copyright © 2004 Humboldt County School District. All rights reserved.
Revised: 10/24/2008