Hopefully you've seen or heard the phrase "healthy low/no-waste lunch and snack" since you've
joined Cascade. Here's a bit more explanation for new families, and a review for families who have been with us for years.
Cascade Heights strives to teach the whole child, which includes healthy eating and care for the environment. We have--at minimum--a "no junk food" policy, and we strive for actual quality nutrition. By low/no-waste, we want families to take the extra few steps needed to minimize garbage.
Healthy Lunches and Snacks
Young bodies work hard all day learning and playing, and they need quality food to sustain their efforts.
Some things to save for after school (this is a nice way of saying it's not allowed at school):
Cookies, cupcakes, brownies, etc. (yes, even "healthy" or sugar-free treats like this). Articles: "Sugar Free" Does Not Equal Healthy, Artificial Sweeteners: Sugar-Free, but at What Cost?
Candy (even around Halloween, Easter, Valentine's Day, etc.)
Soda or juice or juice pouches (even Capri Suns!). Water is the way to go.
Flavored waters, Gatorade, etc.
Chocolate milk
Gum, mints, etc.
Chocolate, caramel, etc. dips
Flavored corn or potato chips (Doritos, Cheetos, etc.)
So what CAN my kid eat at school!?
Fruits (fresh is best, but dried, etc.)
Veggies
Sandwiches (with actual protein, not just jam or Nutella)
Wraps
Leftovers from dinner
Pasta or noodles (with a protein, too!)
Crackers or chips (again, in moderation--there is nothing healthy about eating your weight in baked Goldfish crackers!).
Chicken salad, tuna salad, etc.
Here are some websites with lots of ideas to get you started:
Project Lunch Box (.pdf)
30 Healthy Lunchbox Ideas
Healthy School Lunches and Snacks
Your child should have at minimum each day: a main course, a water bottle, a snack (fruit, veggie, cracker, trail mix, etc.). If you will be using the school lunch program, please be sure to still send along a snack each day. Stay tuned for details about the school lunch program.
What about celebrating my kid's birthday at school?
Think healthy! Some popular ideas: muffins, banana bread, fruit kabobs, watermelon, no sugar added fruit juice popsicles, etc. Please be sure to check with me a few days in advance about what you'd like to bring and when you'd like to bring it.
Low/No-Waste Lunches and Snacks
Our children will be inheriting this planet from us; let's put in a little more effort now to teach them habits that conserve resources and minimize waste.
How this works for lunches and snacks:
Buy a lunch box big enough to hold reusable containers! Write your child's name on it.
Buy reusable containers that your child can open on his own. Write your family name on them.
Buy a reusable water bottle. Write your child's name on it.
Here's a website to get you started.
It is hard to pack a lunch and snacks that are healthy for children and the environment every day; it is another thing that sets Cascade Heights apart from other schools. Thank you for your effort and buy-in!
joined Cascade. Here's a bit more explanation for new families, and a review for families who have been with us for years.
Cascade Heights strives to teach the whole child, which includes healthy eating and care for the environment. We have--at minimum--a "no junk food" policy, and we strive for actual quality nutrition. By low/no-waste, we want families to take the extra few steps needed to minimize garbage.
Healthy Lunches and Snacks
Young bodies work hard all day learning and playing, and they need quality food to sustain their efforts.
Some things to save for after school (this is a nice way of saying it's not allowed at school):
Cookies, cupcakes, brownies, etc. (yes, even "healthy" or sugar-free treats like this). Articles: "Sugar Free" Does Not Equal Healthy, Artificial Sweeteners: Sugar-Free, but at What Cost?
Candy (even around Halloween, Easter, Valentine's Day, etc.)
Soda or juice or juice pouches (even Capri Suns!). Water is the way to go.
Flavored waters, Gatorade, etc.
Chocolate milk
Gum, mints, etc.
Chocolate, caramel, etc. dips
Flavored corn or potato chips (Doritos, Cheetos, etc.)
So what CAN my kid eat at school!?
Fruits (fresh is best, but dried, etc.)
Veggies
Sandwiches (with actual protein, not just jam or Nutella)
Wraps
Leftovers from dinner
Pasta or noodles (with a protein, too!)
Crackers or chips (again, in moderation--there is nothing healthy about eating your weight in baked Goldfish crackers!).
Chicken salad, tuna salad, etc.
Here are some websites with lots of ideas to get you started:
Project Lunch Box (.pdf)
30 Healthy Lunchbox Ideas
Healthy School Lunches and Snacks
Your child should have at minimum each day: a main course, a water bottle, a snack (fruit, veggie, cracker, trail mix, etc.). If you will be using the school lunch program, please be sure to still send along a snack each day. Stay tuned for details about the school lunch program.
What about celebrating my kid's birthday at school?
Think healthy! Some popular ideas: muffins, banana bread, fruit kabobs, watermelon, no sugar added fruit juice popsicles, etc. Please be sure to check with me a few days in advance about what you'd like to bring and when you'd like to bring it.
Low/No-Waste Lunches and Snacks
Our children will be inheriting this planet from us; let's put in a little more effort now to teach them habits that conserve resources and minimize waste.
How this works for lunches and snacks:
Buy a lunch box big enough to hold reusable containers! Write your child's name on it.
Buy reusable containers that your child can open on his own. Write your family name on them.
Buy a reusable water bottle. Write your child's name on it.
Here's a website to get you started.
It is hard to pack a lunch and snacks that are healthy for children and the environment every day; it is another thing that sets Cascade Heights apart from other schools. Thank you for your effort and buy-in!
Credit for this post goes to Mr. Currey. You can view his original post here: http://chpcs2nd.blogspot.com/2015/08/lunches-and-snacks-at-cascade.html