Let’s party! From birthday parties to holiday celebrations, there are many celebrations in school. Along with the fun, usually comes food. Just one party can include sugary juice drinks, chips, cake, or ice cream.
Offering so many treats so often can contribute to unhealthy eating habits. However, with a few easy changes, we can shift the focus of school parties from unhealthy food to healthy fun.
Ideas for Healthier Classroom Celebrations
- Plan an art activity and provide the materials
- Plan a fitness or movement activity
- Plan a special party game
- Have your child pick a book and have the teacher, sibling, or family member come to the class to read it
(Feel free to see your child's teacher for suggestions on any of the above ideas.)
Healthy Party Snacks
Serve snacks with fun plates, napkins, cups, or straws or have a tasting party where children can vote on their favorite healthy snack.
- Use cookie cutters to make sandwiches or fruit more interesting!
- Fruit smoothies
- Trail Mix
- Fruit Kabobs made with a variety of fruit
- Yogurt parfaits with nonfat or low-fat yogurt, low-fat granola, and fruit
- Angel food cake with fresh fruit
- Light popcorn
- Low-fat pudding
- Applesauce or other fruit cups
- Fruit chillers
- Raw veggies served with low-fat dip like salad dressing or hummus
- Berries with low-fat whipped topping
- Graham crackers with jam or apple butter
- Fresh apple slices with caramel or yogurt dip
- Fruit salad
- Whole grain tortilla chips and salsa
- Raisins or dried fruit such as bananas, apples, peaches, apricots, plums, etc.
- Whole grain crakers with reduced fat cheese
- Frozen fruit bars
If you have other nutritious, healthy alternatives please let your child's teacher know in advance. (No high fat, high sugar food items such as cupcakes or cookie cake.)
School Wellness Policy
Federal law requires every school district to have a local wellness policy. These policies must address nutrition education, physical activity, school meals, and all other food and beverages available at school.
Keep in mind that each student's birthday can mean multiple celebrations: one at home with family, a party with friends, and then another at school. Food need not be apart of school parties. Our goals in first grade are to recognize each child on his/her special day, celebrate them, and make them special. We appreciate your support in keeping our children healthy and happy!
-Tatum Ridge First Grade Teachers