Classroom Food & Snacks

Reminders:

1. Please check with your classroom teacher.
2. Consider all allergy concerns.
3. Check label information.
4. Bags should be individually packed.

Grains-  Individual single serve portion sizes. 

• Teddy Grahams (1 oz. bags)
• Pretzels
• Goldfish Crackers
• Granola bars or whole grain cereal bar (no nuts)
• Whole grain chips
• Baked chips  
• Popcorn (Skinny Pop, 100 calorie individual bags)
• Honey Graham Crackers (.5 oz bag)

 Fruit- Individual single serve portion sizes

• Raisins (unsweetened, 1 oz. box)
• Fruit cups (no added sugar, 4oz. or ½ cup)
• Applesauce pouches (1/3 cup, no added sugar)  
• Whole fruit with peels such as mandarin oranges (cuties), bananas, oranges and apples.

Beverages

• Water bottles.
• 100% juice with no added sugar (8oz. size limit)
• Flavored waters, no added sugar, or other additives (caffeine etc)

* Staff and parents need to be aware of and follow life threatening health care/allergy plans.  Allergy web resource link.

Smart Snacks, Healthy Food Environment Background:  The Smart Snack rules apply to items sold and served.  The Healthy Food Environment Guidelines address the food in schools that are not sold.  Having informal food gatherings is still allowable.  Food gatherings need to comply with the Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) basic sanitation requirements.  The big idea behind the Healthy Food Environment Guidelines is to not use food as a reward/incentive.  We need to discourage the use of a candy bar for doing well in class, and the pizza party because you studied hard; we will encourage other non-food incentives.  Cultural food gatherings are an important part of our school communities, we will keep them, but they should model a healthy food environment.

Can our Booster Club or PTA/PTG sell candy or pop at an evening function?
Yes. If the food is sold at least 30 minutes after the end of the school day, the USDA Smart Snacks rules do not apply.  It is always good to provide healthy options for students and parents.  Concession stands do require a health permit from the SRHD.

Does the PTA/PTG need a food permit to sell pizza at an evening event?
Yes. The Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) requires a food permit (different from a food handler card) for any public event where potentially hazardous food items (usually protein items) are sold.  Pizza, nachos, and hot dogs do require a permit.

Can student groups, teachers, or PTAs/PTGs sell food items prior to the start of school?
No. The new Smart Snacks rules and school board procedure 6700 limit food sales from midnight until 30 minutes after the end of the school day.  High school groups must work with their school’s food sale committee.

Can teachers or PTA/PTG give away candy or treats any time they want?
No. The Healthy Food Environment Guidelines focus on not using food as a reward and limiting how often food events and treats are served in school.  With obesity rates over 30% in the U.S., creating a healthy learning environment for our children is important.

Can high school student stores sell gum?
Yes. The new Smart Snacks rules allows sugar-free gum to be sold.


Are staff room vending machines required to comply with the USDA Smart Snacks rules?
No. As long as staff room vending machines do not allow student access, they are exempt from the rule.

Can a teacher or parent bring in pizza to the classroom during lunch for a party?
No. Parties should occur after lunch is served and must be approved by the principal.  Food safety, sanitation, nutrition, life threatening allergies, and pest control issues play a part in limiting food in the classroom.

Can parents send any snack item they want for their child, including candy?
Teachers and staff want to create a healthy learning environment for students.  Snacks for the classroom need to be approved by the teacher and/or principal and should be a healthy whole food items (fruit, whole grain snack cracker, safe protein item). Regular candy treats are discouraged.

Can classroom party treats be homemade?
It is recommended that classroom treats that will be shared be store bought.  The intent is to ensure food items are sanitary and have labels for possible allergy issues.

Fundraisers

Can chocolate bar fundraisers be given to students and can students sell them during the school day or just after school?
No. Any fundraiser food items that could be consumed during the school day must comply with the nutrition requirements. 

Can a box of frozen cookie dough or frozen Danish loaf for a fundraiser be handed out at the end of the school day?
Yes. Fundraiser food items that cannot be eaten during the school day can be handed out at the end of the day.

Can teachers give candy out as an incentive/reward to students?
No. Food and candy incentives do not create a healthy learning environment.  The guidelines strongly encourage offering non-food incentivesfollowing PBIS. 

• Elementary and middle schools cannot have foods sold before the start of school until 30 minutes after the end of the regular school day.
• High school DECA, CTE food classes, and other approved groups can sell food with the approval of the high school’s food sale committee.  The principals and Nutrition Services supervisor coordinate this committee.