School snacks are changing!!! With the new USDA regulations, at Mary J. Donohoe School healthful foods are replacing cookies and candy as the snacks available to kids. Let's take a look.
School snacks must conform to the USDA guidelines, which include calorie limits, sugar caps, and nutrient requirements.
- Calorie Limits: All snacks, including accompaniments like butter and cream cheese, must have no more than 200 calories per serving.
- Fat Ceilings: Fat must make up no more than 35% of the total calorie count, with saturated fat content at less than 10% and trans fat content at 0. Shoot for less than 35 calories of fat per 100 calories of food.
- Only 35% (or less) of the weight in any snack food may come from sugar.
- Nutrient Requirements: In order to meet the USDA's guidelines, snacks must either be rich in whole grains, contain at least a quarter cup of fruit and/or vegetable, have a fruit, vegetable, protein food, or dairy product as the first ingredient, or contain 10% or more of the percent daily value of potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin D, or calcium.
At MJD, take a peek at a teachers desk and you will see carrots, pears, and/or oranges to be enjoyed as a snack during the day. We encourage students to eat healthy by eating healthy ourselves.
The Guidelines and You 
Technically these guidelines are only required for food items sold and served at the school, however here at MJD, we encourage all celebrations and fundraisers to follow the same guidelines.
Make Your Yourself a Snacking All Star! Looking for some great suggestions? Here are some great examples!
- Grapes, apples, and pears are the perfect portable fruit treat.
- Popcorn trail mix: 5 cups lowfat popcorn, 1/4 cup peanuts, 1 cup raisins-put in 6 bags.
- Strawberry crunchies are always a hit. Have kids dip whole strawberries into yogurt, then roll the dipped berries in whole grain cereal.
- Yogurt - "lite" yogurt is low in sugar. Or top plain yogurt with fresh fruit
Teacher Spotlight on Healthy Snacking 
Ms. Fahley is an All Star Snacker! She enjoys apple and banana slices with a little bit of peanut butter on top. Another one of her favorite snacks is fat free pretzels with low salt. She also enjoys baked eggs. Now, don't go saying Ewww! It is quite delicious and super easy to make. First thing is you line a muffin tray with paper muffin wrappers. In a separate bowl mix eggs, vegetables like green peppers, and a pinch of pepper. Then pour some of the mixture into the baking pan and bake for about 15 minutes. They can be eaten hot or cold. Try it yourself!
For more information on healthy snacking, visit: http://foodandhealth.com/usda-snack-foods-schools./