Need healthy snack suggestions for a kindergartner

[redheadk]

Oct 19, 2014 15:56:59 GMT -5 stealthmom said:

Ok. I have a question that might get me flamed.

Why do they need snacks in the first place?

My son went to full-day K and they didn't have any snacks at all. They got lunch. And to my knowledge it was never a problem. My son never said he was hungry. And at home he eats ALL the time.

The only snack I packed was for the after-school program.

So is all this snack nonsense even necessary? All the rules are so ridiculous in the first place, and for something that's not even necessary seems even more ridiculous.

It really depends on the schedule, IME. For a Kindergartener, if they start school at 7:30 (breakfast served at 7:00 at school) but don't have lunch until almost noon, that is a really long time for an active child to not eat while exerting quite a bit of mental energy. 

[redheadk]

Oct 19, 2014 17:00:11 GMT -5 mrsGreeko said:

I think it's weird that the teacher has any say in what your kid gets for a snack actually. If they are put providing it, then they have no say IMO. I however did read recently that applesauce (even without sugar added) should be treated like a junk food, which seemed insane to me. But, if you think about it, it's really not that good, apples are healthy because of the fiber offsetting the sugar. Applesauce takes the fiber out of it. It's absolutely fine in moderation and I think it's way better than chips or cookies or cake or whatever.

Snack ideas:
Whole or cut up apples
Edamame
Guacamole and tortilla chips
Lunch meat roll ups
Carrot coins (my kids prefer them to carrot sticks and they all hate baby carrots)
Meat and cheese kabobs (put lunch meat and cheese cubes on the short wooden skewers they sell for caramel apples)
Use hard sided containers for grapes, berries, etc
Small yogurt cups

That isn't true. It's not as good of a source of fiber as a whole apple/apple slices, but it does still have fiber and is a decent source of fiber. It's just partially broken down, it is not gone entirely. Are you thinking of apple juice?

[cjeanette]

I would sent him with twinkies and color the package green with a sharpie.

then again our kindergarten snacks often involved goldfish so who am I to judge

[stealthmom]

Sorry, to actually answer the OP:

Like everyone else said: hard sided containers are your friend.  DS likes things that are crunchy: celery, carrots, cucumbers.  Then he pretty much likes all fruit: grapes, strawberries, bananas, pineapple, watermelon, etc.

But if I were you, I'd honestly want a decent list of these BS "green light" foods from the teacher.  As in, "I'm sorry.  I thought applesauce was a green light food.  Maybe I need a refresher.  Could you please a list of green light foods?"

[marissa]

I'd use my line I've told my kids. "If you don't like what I'm eating my mom said you can start supplying my food." I have a kid who did feeding therapy and not well. I send in what I know works for my kids and if they have a problem with it. Tough.

[winecheery]

Hmmm. Maybe I should homeschool. I don't appreciate someone making food choices for me. I appreciate the theory behind it, encouraging healthy foods, trying to make all the lunches at school equal or whatever, but to truly dictate a kids' lunch….um, *I* am the parent, thanks. I am big on smart food choices but FFS. What happens if you made homemade brownies or cookies one time, and wanted to offer a special dessert to your child? Can they stop that? WTF IS WRONG WITH THIS WORLD! The occasional treat is part of a well-balanced diet. JFC.

Also, I agree with whoever said that the teacher should broach their concerns with the parent, not the 5 year old.

I make my own applesauce at home (it's just steamed apples, and a bit of cinnamon) and so, without knowing wtf a "green light food" is supposed to be, I would've thought applesauce was fine!!! So with that in mind, can you do:
yogurt
peanut butter and apple slices
grapes
berries
hummus and snap peas or a veg of choice
roasted chickpeas (not super crunchy, just enough to toast them) seasoning of choice
cottage cheese

As for transporting it to avoid squishing, I recommend the oxo tot containers. I used them for making DD's purees and now they are wonderful for on the go snacks.

[Deleted]

The only rule at my kid's school is "no peanuts". And for pre-school, they actually do feed him (and we're not paying for preschool).

I can't make it from breakfast to lunch with no snack. No way in hell do I want to be in a room of 20 or 30 low blood sugar 5 year olds. Snacks are good for you.

You do sound like you need some tips on lunch packing generally (hard containers, thermos, ice packs, etc) that you got. I would also teach my kid to be a smart ass and send what I wanted to feed.

[Ashley&Scott]

What is a "green light food"?

I am not looking forward to navigating food rules at school, the only rules at DC are no nuts.

[mrsGreeko]

Here's a list if green light foods and applesauce is a green light food. Also maybe it will have some other ideas for you. www.ttuhsc.edu/som/fammed/wholefoodlists.aspx

[Ashley&Scott]

Avocado, banana, peanut butter & various vegetables are yellow light foods but JUICE a green light food. WTF?