Dear Families,
As we get rolling in another wonderful school year, we want to let families know about an important requirement regarding snacks brought to school for classroom parties, celebrations, or to share with the class.
Any food or snack brought in for students to share must meet the USDA Smart Snacks in School guidelines. These guidelines help ensure that the foods offered to our students are nutritious and support healthy choices during the school day.
When sending a snack for a classroom celebration, please choose items that meet the Smart Snacks requirements. This applies to all snacks intended to be shared with the class, whether they are for a holiday party, birthday celebration, classroom reward, or another special occasion.
We understand that there are many choices available, and we appreciate your help in making sure that anything sent to school meets these requirements. If you are unsure whether a particular snack is Smart Snack compliant, please check with your child's teacher or the school office before sending the item to school.
Thank you for partnering with us to promote healthy habits and provide a safe, healthy learning environment for all of our students.
What are the Smart Snacks Standards for foods?
To qualify as a Smart Snack, a snack must first meet the general nutrition standards:
· Be a grain product that contains 50 percent or more whole grains by weight (have a whole grain as the first ingredient); or
· Have as the first ingredient a fruit, a vegetable, a dairy food, or a protein food; or
· Be a combination food that contains at least ¼ cup of fruit and/or vegetable (for example, ¼ cup of raisins with enriched pretzels); and
· The food must meet the nutrient standards for calories, sodium, fats, and total sugars.
MORGAN COUNTY SCHOOL’S SMART SNACKS — PARENT GUIDE
All snacks sent to school for classroom parties, celebrations, or to share with students must be Smart Snack compliant.
YES, PLEASE! - Examples from our Approved Smart Snacks List
CHIPS & SNACK MIXES
Baked! Cheetos — Crunchy, Flamin’ Hot
Baked! Lay's — Original, BBQ, Sour Cream & Onion
Reduced Fat Doritos — Nacho Cheese, Cool Ranch
Popchips — Sea Salt, BBQ or Sour Cream & Onion
Simply Chex Snack Mix — 1 oz.
GRANOLA & SNACK BARS
Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars — 0.74 oz.
Nature Valley Chocolate Chunk Chewy Granola Bar — 0.89 oz.
Nature Valley Chewy Granola Bars — 0.89 oz.
Quaker Chewy 90-Calorie Granola Bars
Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats — Whole Grain
CRACKERS, COOKIES & MUFFINS
Honey Maid Teddy Grahams — Cinnamon, Honey, Chocolate
Cheez-It Whole Grain Crackers — 0.75 oz.
Keebler Scooby-Doo Grahams — 1 oz.
Keebler Bug Bites — 1 oz.
Keebler Animal Crackers — 1 oz.
Pillsbury Mini Muffins — 1.6 oz.
FRUIT, YOGURT & CHEESE
Welch's Fruit Snacks — Berries 'n Cherries, Mixed Fruit, 1.5 oz.
Dole Fruit Bowls in 100% Juice — 4 oz.
Mott's Original Applesauce — 4 oz.
Yoplait Trix Low-Fat Yogurt — 4 oz.
Yoplait Simply Go-GURT — 2.25 oz.
String Cheese — 1 oz.
Individual Cheese — 1 oz.
NO, THANK YOU! - Unless the specific product has been verified as Smart Snack compliant, please do not send: Candy • Candy Bars • Cupcakes • Cake • Doughnuts • Regular Chips • Regular Cookies • Soda • Sugary Drinks • Other Unapproved Party Treats
IMPORTANT - Brand, variety AND portion size matter! A different size or variety of the product listed above may not meet Smart Snacks requirements.
If you would like to send an item that is not listed above, please check with the school before purchasing or sending the snack.
Thank you for helping Morgan County Schools promote healthy choices for our students!
This parent guide was developed using the school's Approved Smart Snacks in Schools product list. Product formulations can change; when in doubt, the current Nutrition Facts panel and ingredients should be evaluated for Smart Snacks compliance.
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