Snack Information and Suggestions

   Snack Program

     Our snack program at SYVCS is a great opportunity to nourish our students. What started as Mrs. Rosenberg’s good idea has become a community-centered, brain food feast.  There have been many suggestions and loads of valuable input given throughout the years to create a program that works.

Logistics

    Families are asked to bring in healthy snack for their class. There is a schedule in the DRAGON binders/student homework folders for each month.  In addition, each month one family will be assigned to contribute a back-up snack (that can last for at least one month) and another family will be asked to contribute plates, silverware, napkins or other paper/plastic products to eat the snack on. 

Nutrition Restrictions and Suggestions

     Snack is a word that means many different things to many different people. This is not a treat time for our students.  This is a daily, healthy mini-meal for your kids...  For that reason, we have created a “Please bring” and a “DO NOT bring list”.  You will have to read labels. There are many hidden items in foods that are not good for young minds and growing bodies.  

     Nuts have been outlawed this year. We have at least one student in Kindergarten and second grade who is highly allergic to nuts.  For her safety, we are asking that families do not bring in snacks with nuts, nut oils, peanuts, peanut butter, peanut oil, or any nut related food items. 

          Please hang the following list on your refrigerator or keep it handy when you go shopping.  Thank you for your time and energy in keeping this yummy part of our kids’ day working.  If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please let us know!

DO NOT bring for snack (check food labels). 

Yucky Stuff List

  • NO candy, cupcakes, cakes, cookies, chocolate, chips, soda
  • NO foods with sugar listed as the first ingredient
  • NO foods with high fructose corn syrup listed anywhere
  • NO foods with MSG—monosodium glutamate
  • NO foods with artificial ingredients
  • NO foods with artificial flavors
  • NO foods with nuts, nut oil, nut "milk" or peanut butter, processed in a facility that has peanuts
  • NO foods with lard and try not to get foods with hydrogenated oils

Juice is nice, but not necessary.  Water is always the better option. Students should bring a water bottle from home daily to stay hydrated, especially during the hot months. Some foods that will not be allowed that may surprise you are Go-gurts, Kudos bars, most granola bars, fruit by the foot and most prepackaged fruit snacks (that do not have real fruit in them) and most cereals.  Look out for ranch dressing, crackers, breads, and other baked goods.  You will find yucky stuff in many products.

 

Please bring for snack (check food labels) Good Stuff List

·         vegetables

·         fruit

·         cheese sticks

·         cereal without yucky stuff (Gorilla Munch, Cheerios, Puffins)

·         baked goods like muffins, banana bread, and bagels that are either home made, organic or with a label that does not have yucky stuff.

·         yogurt without yucky stuff—try Stonyfield Farms YoKids

·         oatmeal

·         soup—read the labels!! Campbel's has MSG

·         roll ups—tortillas with meat and cheese

·         hardboiled eggs

·         finger sandwiches

·         ??? try something new!!!

 

For most people, reading labels is not routine and we understand that it takes a little more time.  But, we feel and we know our kids are worth it.