School provided snacks your thoughts - Spin off

**imagine** · 09-10-2011, 03:45 PM

I remembered this thread where providing snacks for the class was discussed.

What do you think about this?

What if the school provided the snacks? What would your thoughts be?

After Labor day Little Miss's elementary school started providing snacks. Every afternoon they bring a cup of fruit or veggie to the classroom. Each student can pick one to eat. The lady said "Take one if you will eat it" Little Miss said almost everyone always eats theirs up quickly. Little Miss said, no thank you to the cherry tomato no surprise she won't eat them here unless she has too.
Yesterday Little Miss was delighted to tell me "they were allowed to have a Whole Pear" she went on to say she ate and ate it until it literally fell apart. Then she giggled and said "then I nibbled a bit more".

The kids all wondered if this was just a treat this week and the lady reassured the children she would be there everyday.

I am delighted and told Little Miss to always try and eat it. Although I am sure on tomato days she will be saying no thank you.

**cheryl65** · 09-10-2011, 03:50 PM

Cute story lol

**HappyMama** · 09-10-2011, 04:51 PM

How sweet. Am so glad she enjoyed the pear.

If my understanding is right it is part of the expanded Federal program which is now making sure many schools have afternoon or after school snacks. There are guidelines to what schools qualify and trying to make as many schools as possible now. If there are at least 40% low income children in the school , then all kids receive free afternoon or after school snacks. If they meet healthy guidelines then reimbursed. At least that is what I remember from being on board.

Here is some information. Some is titled after school but they did extend it to morning and afternoon snacks in some schools. Which is nice for the kids and helpful to their learning and great for parents. Some of the info seems older but these programs are what is being expanded etc to include all the new.

The Afterschool Nutrition Programs are relatively new. The 1998 Child Nutrition
Reauthorization law (P.L. 105-336) created the Afterschool Snack Program to pay for food
in afterschool programs in low-income areas (the area eligibility test). The Afterschool
Meal Program was created through the 2000 Agriculture Risk Protection Act (P.L. 106-
224). Originally, the meal program was only available in six states. In subsequent years,
Congress added more states through the appropriation process, so that currently 13
states and the District of Columbia have it.
Since the creation of the Afterschool Nutrition Programs, participation has grown each
year. As of October 2009, more than 1.7 million children received a nutritious snack or
supper on a typical day at approximately 37,000 afterschool programs. Still, there is a lot
of room for growth in participation. Child Nutrition Reauthorization provides an
opportunity to ensure that children receive the nutrition they need to continue learning
throughout the afternoon. Important legislative changes include:
Expanding the Afterschool Meal Program nationwide so that low-income children
•
in all states can receive a nutritious meal after school;
FRAC Improving the area eligibility test so that more afterschool programs serving
•
Campaign to End
significant numbers of low-income children are able to participate; and
Childhood Hunger
1875 Connecticut Avenue Making it easier for community-based afterschool programs that also serve
•
NW, Suite 540
children during the summer to participate by expanding the so-called Year-Round
Washington, DC 20009
Summer Food Pilot, in effect a paperwork reduction strategy.
202.986.2200
Benefits
The Afterschool Nutrition Programs provide important supports for children and the local
afterschool programs in which they participate. Afterschool snacks and meals help make it
possible for children to be active and engaged during afterschool enrichment programming
that keeps them safe, supervised, and learning while their parents are at work. The
afterschool nutrition programs are a crucial support for working families, especially when
the primary caregivers work non-traditional schedules. In addition, the programs stimulate
state economies with an influx of federal child nutrition funding, and create jobs in the
afterschool and food service sectors.

**shoiji** · 09-10-2011, 05:54 PM

Sounds like a great way to get the kids to eat healthy. Especially when not every child gets the chance to.

**imagine** · 09-10-2011, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by shoiji

Sounds like a great way to get the kids to eat healthy. Especially when not every child gets the chance to.

The children are also encouraged to bring a bottle of water ( they can fill them at school if they wish) So lots of refillable water bottles on their desk all day. Little Miss and Buddy plus most classmates carry theirs with them from class to class.

So lots of water drinking and veggie/fruit eating going on.

**HappyMama** · 09-10-2011, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by imagine

The children are also encouraged to bring a bottle of water ( they can fill them at school if they wish) So lots of refillable water bottles on their desk all day. Little Miss and Buddy plus most classmates carry theirs with them from class to class.

So lots of water drinking and veggie/fruit eating going on.

That is so awesome , isn't it? Love it. It sounds like you have a wonderful school district.

**Nana2two** · 09-10-2011, 08:17 PM

My grandson is allowed to bring a bottle water. He is 2nd grade. My other grandson is in headstart and he has all kinds of great things on the menu.

**Libby** · 09-10-2011, 08:37 PM

THATS what I remember growing up for JK - Gr 1. AM snacks were a piece of fruit - apples/pears cut into 1/4's with the seed portion removed, a tiny bunch of grapes, half a banana, orange wedges - we each got one piece to try and if there were leftovers, we were allowed 2nds. For a treat (I guess when it was in season) we were offered cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon. We were also given lil dixie cups of water where if we were still thirsty, we could refill it a the class water fountain. No crackers/cookies etc.

I'm glad to hear that schools still offer this type of program.

**monkeywrangler71** · 09-10-2011, 08:45 PM

I think that's wonderful. Not because the school is providing the snacks, but because the snacks are actually made of food.

I don't come from an area with gov't provided food in schools, but if my kids' school suggested a program like this I would definitely donate food, time or money to make it happen.

Our kids are also encouraged to have a water bottle at their desk.

**imagine** · 09-14-2011, 05:15 PM

Kiwi was Monday's snack yellow carrots on tuessay and today was nectarine I have to admit I do not think I have ever eaten a nectarine I ask little miss what it tasted like she said like a plum and a peach mixed together. She said it was tummy and ate every last bit as did everyone but one kid who said no

**dancemommy** · 09-14-2011, 06:37 PM

Its interesting and sounds like a decent program. I don't live in any area where there is "need" so we have no programs such as this- it seems almost foreign to me quite honestly. We live somewhere where we have to even pay book rental for our kids to go to public school- it totaled $1000 for my 4 kids to go to public school. Many schools in our area have started charging for busing too. I can't imagine the kids would ever have "free" snacks.

**imagine** · 09-14-2011, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by dancemommy

Its interesting and sounds like a decent program. I don't live in any area where there is "need" so we have no programs such as this- it seems almost foreign to me quite honestly. We live somewhere where we have to even pay book rental for our kids to go to public school- it totaled $1000 for my 4 kids to go to public school. Many schools in our area have started charging for busing too. I can't imagine the kids would ever have "free" snacks.

We pay a textbook rental fee too. They even had them here when I was in school. It is on a sliding scale though reduced lunch = reduced fees qualify for free lunch = no fee

Busing is still free if you live in a certain number of miles from the school. Because they do not want anyone to miss out middle and high school dances have free busing to them. And there is busing afterschool and after sports practice

**Sophiasmama** · 09-14-2011, 10:04 PM

Thats great!!!!

**Dancing Lotus** · 09-15-2011, 08:26 AM

I like it and wish my school would do it

**LuvMyHubby** · 09-15-2011, 06:30 PM

I think it is wonderful. Although, my dd is allergic to some of the more exotic types of fruits i.e kiwi, mango, papaya. So as a parent I would definately want to know what fruits and veggies are being given to my child, so that the teacher could be aware and I could have sent something else that to supplement other than that a very good concept.