Dear Carol,
Hello, My name is Lori Smith and I am the Facility Director at Columbia Park Community Center in Landover, Maryland. The director of my after school program, Ms. Macklin is looking different heathly snacks and drinks that she can serve the kids. Can you help us out?

Just to give you some idea about who we are, we are a small community center, connected to a school, with no kitchen. We do have a microwave and refrigerator and limited storage space for food. With that information, I hope it helps you with your list:-). Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Dear Lori
I'm so happy to get your request. I cringe when I see after school programs handing out junk food to kids for after school snack. A community program is such a perfect time to get kids into the habit of eating healthy. They're often famished after school and will eat and appreciate most of what is given to them, particularly when they don't have free access to the kitchen cupboard or refrigerator.

So let's get started. Recently, I've been developing fitness/health investigations to learn more about kids. Here's my most recent investigation. Peachy Investigations

This investigation showed that kids preferred eating natural or simply prepared foods. This is good news for your program! So don't waste time making fancy foods for healthy snack. According to my little study, the less you do to the snack the more likely a child will be to eat it.

Here's a list:

1. Fresh fruit: whole peaches, peeled and sectioned oranges, halves of bananas, whole apples (or quartered apples), Lots of fruit with no frills.

2. Yogurt. Low fat is preferred.

3. Rice cakes. They come in a million yummy flavors.

4. Granola bars. Try both the soft and crunchy varieties.

5. Cut up veggies. All you need is a knife to prepare for easy munching red peppers, celery, steamed broccoli (microwave for this one), baby carrots, etc. etc.

My recommendation would be to always have fresh fruit available and one other snack. Like an "apple and a granola bar" or an "orange and a yogurt".

MORE:

1. Pretzels

2. Triscuits or other whole grain crackers

3. Whole wheat and peanut butter sandwich quarters (tiny sandwiches), or tuna, egg salad, lean meat

4. Small pieces of bagels with peanut butter or cottage cheese

5. Fruit smoothies for a real treat (yogurt, fruit, orange juice)...you'll need a blender for this one.

MICROWAVE

1. Small pieces of baked potatoes sprinkled with parmesan cheese

2. Low fat raisin English muffin quarters

3. Whole wheat pita quarters warmed in microwave.

4. And for a special holiday treat make this fun snack in the microwave. (spread peanut butter on a cored apple half, sprinkle with brown sugar, cover with plastic wrap or waxed paper, microwave a minute or so until softened (experiment with the time). Great for Halloween

DRINKS

1. Ice water

2. Low fat chocolate milk

3. Bottled water with lemon or lime quarters (let kids squeeze them into water).

4. V-8 juice with celery sticks

5. Fruit juice (you may wish to dilute)

Also see our Nutrition Page There are about 10 articles that will be of interest to you, an make sure to read this one. It includes online 'research' via visitors to the Teachers Net and an actual program from my first grade classroom. CLASSROOM SNACK PROGRAM

Think simple, get the kids to help you with a list, avoid junk food. Use your microwave for air popped popcorn. Have plenty or snacks for the kids to munch on and try to eliminate snacks with empty calories or little health and nutritional value. Be a model of health and nutrition for your community.