Low-cost, healthy snacks

Welcome to low-cost healthy snacks! This is a very active session! –We need everyones thinking. –We need everyones help to make some terrific, healthy snacks. –We need everyones energy to have a great party at the end. Here is how our time together is structured: –Well talk a bit about healthy snacks. –We will break into groups to make snacks at the 4 work stations. –Each group will report out what they learn and how they would use the recipe to involve children in making healthy snacks. –Everyone will have a chance to sample at our party!

Lets think together about healthy snacks! CACFP requires 2 of the following food groups for a snack: grain/bread, fruit/vegetable, meat/meat alternate, milk. –We can exceed the standards by following best practices –Whole grains, more fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, nonfat milk for children 2 years and older –Water can be an excellent beverage if you serve a nutrient-dense snack with at least 2 food groups for snack What are some things to consider when planning? –Cost –Ease of preparation –Childrens involvement in snack-making –Other considerations?

4 Lets make snacks! Break into groups and go to your workstation. Read through the recipe, decide who will do which tasks, and prepare your snack. Be sure to assign at least one person to observe and record what worked well and what was challenging. You have 15 minutes to make your snack! After snack-making, each group will have 2-3 minutes to share: –What was successful? –What was challenging? –How could we do this with preschool children? –Point out your workstation so others can go try the snack you made

5 Lets share what we discovered! Snack-making group presentations: 2-3 minutes each –What was successful? –What was challenging? –How could we do this with preschool children? –Point out your work station so others can go try the snack that you made after the presentations Lets have a snack-tasting party! –Explore the snacks at the work stations. Some may already be made, but at others, you may have to make your own. –Have fun with this! –We will come together one last time near the end of the session.

Bringing it all back home: literally! Introduce healthy snacks to your staff as part of your homework. Ask your staff to use the Team Nutrition recipes in classrooms weekly. As children become more skilled, create or use rebus (picture) recipes that children can manage independently to create healthy snacks. Think about using some of these healthy snack activities to make your staff meetings feel more festive and fun. Consider using the snack activities at an event for families to show them delicious making healthy snacks can be! Be sure to give them the recipes. Use recipes to create Healthy Homework that children do at home with their families over the weekend. Other ideas?