No cupcakes?

"Cheese and crackers and granola for birthdays? WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE THINKING?"

The mom who called about our wellness policy was pretty upset. She supported the policy on cutting vending machines but thought that eliminating birthday cupcakes in the classroom was "out of control." To a lot of moms, the long-standing tradition of treating your classmates with sweets on your birthday seems threatened by this policy.

Celebrations and food are intertwined in our culture (and many others). Food adds sensory elements to our memories so we can recall the sights and sounds as well as the smells, tastes and textures of celebrations. Just imagine family gathered at the dinner table, Thanksgiving feasts, special sweets on Christmas, Hannukah, Valentines Day and birthdays. . . you get the idea.

This concerned mom and I talked, and together we came up with quite a list of birthday celebration ideas and I've been thinking about it every since. Sure, you can bring in string cheese and carrots for your child's birthday; but let your mind wander a bit and you can come up with ideas kids will really love. Here are some starters . . .

• Fruit juice popsicles
• Frozen yogurt
• Fruit kabobs
• Low-fat muffins
• Angel food cupcakes
• "Skinny Cow" (or similar) ice cream sandwiches

If your kids haven't tried Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches, you need to check them out! You can buy a classroom sized box of them at Costco. Kids and adults love them and they're individually wrapped. I promise they will welcome this treat.

How about a yogurt sundae bar?? Start with yogurt (regular yogurt or low-fat frozen) scooped into individual bowls. Then let kids add their own toppings from bowls of raisins, berries, cereal, nuts, healthy gummy treats, granola, graham bears, bananas . . . I bet you could even find healthy whipped topping.

How about "make your own snack mix?" Give kids a ziploc bag and let them pick and choose their own items for snack mix. Use some of the items from the sundae bar list above. Every mix will be unique!

I realize lots of people will still really miss cupcakes and brownies and ice cream. But, hopefully we can start some new traditions. If you come up with some great birthday celebration treats that meet the guidelines below, share them so we can pass them along!

*foods served and sold during the school day must have less than 30% cals from fat, less than 10% from sat. fat, less than 35% added sugar by weight/volume, and less than 600 mg sodium.

Healthy snacks for kids of all ages

My kids are 10 and 12 and they like to snack all the time! I wish I could say they always choose a healthy snack --- truth is, they'll eat whatever they can access. Every so often I have to remind myself to stock the kitchen with good choices. I've also discovered that the kids will eat fruits and vegetables if I cut them up and put them on the counter, but they'll never dig in the fridge for a crisp apple or stalk of celery. What a phenomenon!

Here's a list of healthy snacks kids and adults can gobble down at home or bring to school to share. The meet the nutrition guidelines --- just make sure you understand the proper portion size.

• Pretzels
• Unsweetened applesauce
• Yogurt
• Raisins
• Apple slices
• Orange sections
• Melon slices
• Grapes
• Dried fruit
• Fruit cups
• Graham crackers
• Veggies & dip
• Pita chips
• Popcorn
• Trail mix
• Juice/yogurt popsicles
• Baked chips
• Sugar-free jello
• Nuts & seeds
• Cereal (low sugar)

There are many more items that can be added to this list. In the coming weeks I'll share some recipes that use healthy snack items to make snacks and lunches more interesting. Please let me know if you have great recipes of your own!

Ready or Not . . .

Life in the Anchorage School District changed dramatically this fall with the implementation of a new "wellness policy" that addresses nutrition and physical activity. The most noticable change is the absence of junk food and soda in vending machines. All foods served and sold during the school day must meet the following nutritional requirements:

• total calories from fat - less than 30%


• total calories from saturated fat - less than 10%


• added sugar by volume/weight - less than 35%


• sodium - less than 600 mg

These guidelines apply to classrooms, school offices, school stores, fund raisers, and even staff lounges. This policy is designed to help us limit sugary and fatty foods available to students and to help adults model healthy eating behaviors. HOWEVER, it has raised lots of questions, concerns and even challenges.

• Can parents bring cupcakes for classroom birthday parties?
• Will students still be able to sell candy for fund raisers?
• Are adults prohibited from having soda at school?
• Can the district monitor what kids pack in their lunches?

This site is a forum for addressing some of these questions. It's also a place for staff, parents and students to share good ideas and suggestions. So, check back often and post your comments, ideas and questions.