Community Snack at TCS
TCS NO NUT POLICY:
Due to an increased number of children with life threatening allergies, The Children's School early childhood classrooms (toddlers, preschool, prekindergarten and kindergarten programs) are nut-free. Please do not pack any type of food in your child's lunch or snacks that contain any type of nuts or peanut butter. If your child has any type of food or environmental allergy, please notify your child's teachers.
| Please avoid snacks and lunches that contain peanuts, peanut flour, peanut oil, peanut butter, or other nuts. This includes items with almonds, coconuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nut, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts. Please note: Food labels/ingredients may change over time, so it is always recommended that you read the label before purchasing, Please read labels carefully to make sure the products are nut free. This includes labels that read “may contain traces of peanuts/nuts” or “ manufactured in a facility that also processes peanuts (and/or other nuts)”. Quick check brands: Kellogg’s, Keebler, General Mills, Betty Crocker, and Quaker Oat brands are excellent at labeling allergy alerts on the box: Example: CONTAINS PEANUT AND EGG INGREDIENTS Thank you for your consideration and support in keeping the food-allergic children safe from having a life-threatening allergic reaction at school. |
Community Snack suggestions:
Included here is a list of suggested snack items which can be found at popular grocery stores in the area. The list includes traditional snacks as well as some new items that will expose young children to a variety of wholesome snack foods.
When providing snack for your classroom, please include a veggie or fruit. Community snack time is a great opportunity for your child to bring something new for other children to try. Here are our recommendations but please feel free to confer with the classroom teacher if you have questions.
Fruits/ Vegetables
- Any fresh fruit (apples, oranges, pears, blueberries, strawberries, melons, etc.)
- Fresh vegetables (carrots, celery sticks, cucumber slices, broccoli, red bell peppers etc.)
- Applesauce cups (unsweetened)
- Edamame
Cheese/ Dairy
- Yogurt (individual cups or tubes)
- String cheese, sliced or cubed cheeses
- Cottage cheese
Protein
- Hard boiled eggs
- Sliced turkey or lunch meet
- Hummus
- Soy butter and jelly sandwiches
Crackers/Snack Items
- Kashi crackers
- Pirate’s Booty
- Newman’s Own Pretzels
- Bagels (mini-sized)
- Homemade muffins or bread (please bring in ingredient list.
These are some suggestions but please do not limit yourself to these choices. We encourage you to bring in your own favorite healthy snacks that your family enjoys. This is also an opportunity for your family to share any unique or traditional foods that your family prepares at home.
Here are a few items we would prefer not to have as part of community snack:
No juices, juices boxes or chocolate milk
No dessert items
No donuts
Special Birthday Treats
We encourage you to celebrate your child’s birthday with the class! You may bring a special small snack to share, which we typically enjoy after lunch or before dismissal. Please keep in mind that depending on the size of your child’s class, there may be many birthday celebrations throughout the school year. Our goal is to focus on the celebration and keep the birthday treat portion small and simple. You may always check with your classroom teacher prior to your child’s birthday for ideas.
Here are some items we encourage for birthday treats:
- Popsicles
- Whole fruit bars, juice bars
- Frozen bananas
- Cuties soy ice cream sandwiches
Here are some items we would prefer not to have brought in:
Large store bought cupcakes
Donuts
Large birthday cakes
Thank you for all your efforts in keeping our children healthy and helping us to encourage healthy eating habits all year long! We do appreciate all our families who bring in yummy nutritional snacks for the classroom to enjoy.
