Snack Time

Safety in the Preschool

Keep your Child at Home If...







Snack time is an essential part of the curriculum, and can be a great moment for social interaction and learning. The children are encouraged to be self sufficient by serving and cleaning up after themselves. This is also an opportunity for them to make choices and try new foods.

For safety, food is consumed in the snack area, and children should be sitting down, to avoid choking hazards. Initially, handwashing and snacktime may seem chaotic, as the children learn new skills, but as the year progresses, the children become more and more competent at the table, and it is a joy to listen to their conversations and see their blossoming independence.

Food Preparation
Due to the increased awareness of food-borne illnesses and the importance of proper hygiene, food must be prepared on the premises.

  • Food must arrive at the Preschool in its original sealed package.
  • All fruits and vegetables must be washed thoroughly at school.
  • All baked goods such as bread or muffins must be prepared at school.
  • Hands must be washed before preparing food, and before serving & eating snack.
  • Garbage must be removed at the end of each class.

Serving Snack:

  • Toddler and 2-3 groups will provide children with individual servings.
  • 3-4 & 4-5 groups will serve family style, where tongs will be supplied for the children to serve themselves.
  • Only small portions should be served, with seconds available for children who need more.
  • Unserved food will remain in the kitchen, and be taken home at the end of class.
  • Served but uneaten food should be discarded or put in the compost.

Snack Parent Should:

  • Bring a roll of paper towels.
  • Prepare snack by the designated time in your class.
  • Use bleach solution on the snack table and place the children's mats at one end for self-selection.
  • Place on the table:
    · Cups
    · Beverage pitcher
    · Food baskets and tongs
    · Snack sponge
  • Monitor the table to help children with social skills and replenish snack as necessary.
  • Help children clean up their snack area when they are done with snack.
  • Wipe down each placemat with bleach solution.
  • Wash all dishes and place in drainer.
  • Take home the kitchen and bathroom trash and relace the trash bags.

Snack Helper Should:

  • Assist the snack parent with set-up.
  • Help children wash their hands and get seated.
  • Monitor snack tables to help the children with serving and social skills.
  • Wash tables with bleach solution and paper towels when snack is over.
  • Sweep the floor of the snack/art area.

Suggested Snack List: Toddlers - 4-5's

Fruits:
 Banana slices, grapes, canned fruit, apricots, plums, tangerine sections,orange sections,grapefruit sections, melon pieces, berries, pitted cherries, peach slices, pear slices, apple's either slices or grates, fruit cups (cupcake liners filled with assorted fruits), apple sauce, pineapple chunks, bananas rolled in wheatgerm...
Vegetables: Peas, cooked or frozen. Cherry tomatos, peeled cucumber rounds, zucchini slices, bean sprouts, carrots, sliced, diced (steamed for a few minutes for toddlers) steamed broccoli, green beans or cauliflower florets, canned kidney beans, garbanzo beans...
Cereals & Grains: Wholegrain crackers, saltines, cheese nips, wholewheat pretzels, unsweetened ready to eat cereals, rice cakes - plain or spread with cream cheese, or other cheese spread...
Protein Rich Foods: Hard boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, tuna chunks, salmon chunks (beware of bones), tuna sandwich, grilled cheese sandwich, yogurt, cottage cheese, skinless weiners (cut into strips, not rounds), chipped beef slices spread with cream cheese and rolled, cheese (no cheese for 3/4 class this year), cut into shapes, fish sticks, kidney beans, slivers of chicken or turkey, mini quiches...
Miscellaneous: Raisins, frozen yogurt in icecream cones, frozen yogurt push-ups, cooked pasta, fruit smoothies (can be dairy free)...
Avoid: popcorn - toddlers, nuts - children under 4, hotdogs - do not serve whole, peanut butter, hard candies, hard raw veggies - toddlers, fruits with pits, potato chips and hard crackers...

Please contact your teacher, or parent coordinator if you have any additional suggestions to add to this list.

Allergies:
Some children have dietary restrictions or allergies to certain foods, which should be made clear to the rest of the class. By ensuring the class is aware of and restrictions, the snack parent can prepare food for that child that is appropriate, and warn other adults that a particular child may not have certain foods offered that day.

The school is a peanut free environment, so parents should be aware that some of the snacks they buy may contain peanuts. Please check the ingredients on all packaging carefully.
Here is a brief list of foods that contain peanuts, or have been prepared in an environment that also processes peanuts:

Ethnic Foods: Chinese, Thai, Indian
Lu Cookies
Tim’s Cascade Chips
Jelly Bellies
M & M’s
Costco Baked Goods
Granola Bars
Walker Shortbread Cookies
Pre-made Snack Mixes-Goldfish, Chex Mix
Pre-made Cookie Dough
Newman’s Cookies
Entemenn’s Baked Goods
Ritz Crackers
Most Keebler Products
American Chocolate, Ghirardelli ,Nestle Choco Chunks, Lintz