Birthday Snack and Wellness Policy Guidelines
BIRTHDAY RECOGNITION
Each student’s birthday is recognized here at school. Birthday greetings are announced as part of the morning announcements, including summer birthdays that are remembered at the half-year mark. Mrs. Wallace also hosts a monthly birthday gathering at snack time. There is no expectation that parents provide snacks or treats. If you do wish to send in a little something for your child to share on his/her birthday please keep in mind:
· There is just a 15 minute snack break in which the entire class is together with time to celebrate.
· Snacks that meet the health guidelines need to come in already portioned, so that the students can pass them out easily and quickly to their classmates.
· If utensils and/or napkins are needed they need to be sent in.
· In light of the new food guidelines, you may find it easier to send in a small favor instead of food items.
· In either case, we ask you to spend no more that $1.00 per child.
Again, please realize that there is no expectation that you send something. We offer the following suggestions only because several parents have contacted us to ask for ideas.
Recommendations for in school birthday celebrations:
Non- food items: (Please keep cost to $1 or less per student)
Pencils
Erasers
Stickers
Bookmarks
Party trinkets
Your child can join the celebration book club and for $10 add their selection, with their name on a special bookplate, to our library. Contact Lisa Galaska, librarian for details.
Food items:
In conjunction with our wellness policy foods served to the class must meet certain criteria:
Contain 10 grams of fat or less per serving size
Please no nuts or peanut butter due to the many students with food allergies
You may read the labels of any foods you are considering but here are some that meet the low fat standard:
FRUIT and VEGETABLES!! Fresh applesauce, fruit kabobs, veggie with low fat dip
Chex snack mix Baked snacks Pretzels
Some cereal bars Low fat string cheese
Rice cakes Low fat cracker
100% juice boxes Low fat flavored milk
If you like to bake, check out the “approved” recipes on our web site.
Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to comply with the new Wellness Policy! It is going well. Classrooms have celebrated many birthdays already this year and I haven’t had to turn away any cupcakes, cookies, etc. Thank you! Students have brought in small trinkets as well as baked food that is on our developing “approved” list. There has been many fruit and vegetable celebrations as well!
We have added a link to the school’s website for the Wellness Policy. This link has recipes that have been “approved” because they fit the nutritional guidelines of the policy. We will continue to add recipes as families send them in, one month ahead of time, to be approved. We have found that if you get a recipe from a cooking lite or diabetes type cookbook than the recipe already has the nutritional information at the bottom. This helps us tremendously when trying to figure out if the recipe complies with the policy.
The staff has also started a list of items that we are aware of or that have come in for a birthday celebration that fit the policy. Please keep checking this link for celebration items that fit our new Wellness Policy. Please feel free to let Mrs. Wallace know if you find something you think should be added! Thanks!
THE WELLNESS POLICY Update
The district has adopted a new Wellness Policy, which complies with the guidelines set forth by federal law. I will be explaining and clarifying this policy throughout the year so that the policy and its affects in the classroom are clear for all of us. There is an extensive Q & A document on the district web site (www.eastlongmeadow.org - under District Documents at the bottom under Wellness Policy). Here are a few of the important facts:
- The policy applies to food sold or supported by the school (hot lunch, a la cart items, celebrations, curricular activities, etc.).
- Our cafeteria offerings already fit the guidelines. We have added an 8 oz. bottle of water for 30 cents to our a la carte offerings each day.
- The policy does not apply to food you send in for your child for lunch or snack.
- The policy does apply to food you send in for your child to share with other students (birthdays, etc.).
- The policy requires control of nutritional elements and portion size:
o Less than 10 grams of fat
o Ice cream/yogurt 8 grams of fat or less
o 2 oz. portions of all snack foods (chips, popcorn, bagels, muffins, etc.) unless fruits or vegetables.
o 100% juice or water are the allowable beverages
o 20 fl. Ounces or less of beverages (excluding water)
- PTO fundraisers are excluded because they are a separate entity from the school.
- Check the Q & A document for excluded national celebrations and holidays.
- Check the Q & A document for answers to many of your questions!