Snack

There is a mid-morning, healthy snack brought in each week by one child in the class, on a rotating basis, for the whole class. Your “snack weeks” will be assigned after phase-in.

Snack is a special time for the children to socialize with each other and their teachers. It can also be very special (and educational) for your child to assist when you choose foods and shop for snack week. Sometimes parents and children even bake, or slice and pack the snack foods together, time permitting. Although your snack week adds to your often hectic schedule, it is also a wonderful opportunity for children and parents.

The children re-energize with a healthy snack during their busy school day. To that end, we hope parents bring in foods that are made with good ingredients (such as organic, or whole grains, etc.), and not too much sugar or salt (sodium). Also, please avoid sugar substitutes of any kind.

Parents often ask what to purchase for snack. The list on the bottom of this page has been compiled to assist you. It was created after much staff discussion and with the help of a nutritionist.

Parents do not purchase beverages during their snack week. The children are provided with water. The Nursery School also supplies all necessary paper goods and utensils.

Sometimes, in lieu of a regular snack, teachers may request the ingredients for a snack that will be cooked at school (i.e. apples for applesauce).

Birthdays: One of your snack weeks will closely line up with your child’s birthday so you can provide a birthday treat for the class on one of your snack days, if desired. Please see your child’s teachers to make arrangements for a birthday celebration. (Parents of children with allergies should provide an alternate treat for their child that can be stored in the classroom.)
Do Not Bring: Peanuts, peanut products, and peanut oil are to be avoided. The Temple and Nursery School maintains a peanut-free environment whenever possible. Home baked items must not contain peanuts or peanut oils. Treyf (pork and shellfish) foods are also not permitted.
Special Considerations: Parents can provide any substitute snacks for any child who has special dietary needs. Always feel free to communicate your concerns with your child’s teachers.
Allergies: The Nursery School may identify allergies in your child’s class in order to ensure each child’s safety. Before snacks are offered to children with food allergies, those foods must be approved and initialed by the child’s parents.

If the regularly provided snack is not safe for your child, you should supply an alternate, safe snack. Safe snacks can be stored with your child’s teachers. Substitute, safe “treats” for class birthday celebrations can also be stored with your child’s teachers. On Fridays, you should provide a suitable challah or “challah substitute” if your child may not eat the challah provided by the Nursery School.

Your child’s teacher will provide more detailed information to the class regarding allergies when necessary.

Instructions:

• Snacks must be ready to serve (i.e. washed and cut).
• Choose 1 food from Column A and one from Column B for each day of your snack week (except Shabbat).
• On Shabbat, fresh challah is provided to each class by the Nursery School. Therefore, on Fridays, you need only provide a Column B food for the class.
• “Family Size” boxes and amounts are welcome, (especially as your children turn 4 and 5 years old). Yet, we do not want to over feed the children before lunch.
  

  Column A	Column B
  Healthy Cereal
  Crackers
  Graham Crackers	Apples, or Pears (sliced)
  Mini-Bagels (with or without spreads)	Blueberries, Raspberries, or Blackberries
  Pretzels	Watermelon, Pineapple, or Melon (cut up)
  Rice Cakes	Edemame, or Sugar Snap Peas
  Bread Sticks	Zucchini
  Granola/Cereal Bars	Oranges, or Clementines
  Mini-Muffins	Bananas (1/2 per child)
  Healthy Chips	Grapes (cut in half for 2’s and 3’s)
  Popcorn*	Raisins, Craisins, or other dried fruits
  Matzah	Celery, Cucumbers, or Carrots* (cut up)
  Pita Bread	Tahini, Guacamole, or other healthy dips
  Healthy Chips (tortilla, vegetable)	Cherry Tomatoes, or Cherries
  Hard-Boiled Eggs	Apple Sauce
  Yogurt, Cottage Cheese, Cheese	Peaches, nectarines, or plums, etc. (cut up)

  *Popcorn and carrots are not permitted in the 2’s and 3’s. Popcorn is only permitted in the 3’s after all children have turned 3 years old.