Snacks/Kids/Economics

[Robert V]

I teach in an inner city school. There is very low parent involvement. There is very little money coming into the school.

I've always been a firm believe "kids can't learn when they are thirsty or dehydrated". I allow students to have water bottles at their desk and we have a morning snack, for most kids eat breakfast between 7-7:30 and they don't have lunch until 12:00.

I have snack time, around 10am, but only a couple students bring snacks from home and I always run out of money buying snacks for the kids.(Please don't ask me if the school provide snacks :( ) The snacks I can afford are not the healthiest.

Also, I have over 25 first-graders, with no help. It would take a lot of time to stand there and make snacks. Pressure is high in schools our schedules are tight.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I could economically feed these children good foods?

Any ideas are welcome. Just remember, I don't have a lot of money, nor do I have assistance.

[Connie Brown]

Hmm, first thought, the problem is too big for one person, the classroom teacher. Maybe our two communities, CST and RR, can help.

I hate to say this but it sounds like a job for a foundation or fundraising effort. Kathleen, do you know how to set up something? Like a way for people to donate to this project, or get funding?

My dream would be, the upcoming kids' shake from RR, which comes out to a very cost-effective breakfast, so seems like it would be a cost-effective snack - but how to handle the cost in the first place.

[earnold8]

Hi Robert! I am a kindergarten teacher in San Jose, CA. The area that I teach in is similar to what you go through...I know because I used to teach in a true inner city school district in Ohio. That said...I have been doing the Radiant Recovery program for 4 1/2 years and have started to incorporate this into my classroom. My children are not allowed to bring things for snacks that are unhealthy. The first three days this year, I brought in snacks. The kids liked the string cheese the best. When we have back to school night, I am going to tell the parents that they are required to bring a healthy snack because children should not go longer than 3 hours without eating. (as per Kathleen Des Maisons' Little Sugar Addicts book).

This doesn't really solve your problem if they won't bring anything...what you can try to do is what I am doing and then just have something extra around in case they don't bring something. Hard boiled eggs are easy to have around as well as cheese. I know a LOT about spending a lot of money on the kids...I do that too. With that, you could keep some healthier crackers, like triscuits (not the best) but I don't think the kids would be too keen on rye vita. :D You could try a reward system if they bring a healthy snack for a week...something small like something from Oriental Trading Company. In a pinch, you could keep a jar of natural peanut butter around (as long as you have no allergies in your class) to go with the crackers. Kids will usually eat that and since they don't need a lot of protein, that might work well.

I'll keep thinking and see if I can come up with anything else. I would love to hear what you end up doing and how it works. I am so glad you asked this question.

Elaine

[Robert V]

Thanks, everyone!

Fundraising will not work here. The community is not that type of community. I have worked in schools with money, who had parents with money and I had lots of parent volunteers...but this isn't the place. It's like night and day. Education is not equal, no matter what you read.

I would really like to do the cheese concept. I will beg the parents to send some. Also, if you can think of a list of good snacks, I'll make a list and send it to parents.

The peanutbutter crackers might work also. Maybe I can have parents just send in boxes of crackers. I then can have children make the crackers themselves. I don't know how long that will last, but I'll try.

Usually, I suggest boxes of cereal, graham crackers, goldfish crackers, and pretzels.

Candy and sodas are my only no can do's!

Also, I'm the only teacher who has vegetarian parties. I'm not a vegetarian anymore. But I think kids just need the exposure to a variety of fruits and veggies. I always get critized initially, but then it turns out great.

The best thing the forum can do for me is to give me ideas. I know I'm not the only one who has had to confront this issue. We have great minds here. I know you can help.

[Scott Sonnon]

Ideas are great, and the Radiant Recovery community is absolutely bubbling with them - as well as professional researchers who are dedicated to this very topic. My wife and I participated in one of the workshops at Radiant Recovery Ranch regarding this topic. We were blown away by the wealth of knowledge, experience and research.

I can also say this, Robert. Fundraising is NOT out of the question... here. Let's come up with some viable options for you, and I'll be willing to match whatever funds we can raise through the "tribe" for your kids.

[Connie Brown]

That's what I meant too Robert! Not fundraising out of your tapped-out community, but here.

Also what about the local food bank or government cheese? I wonder if they could be approached. Or even, the makers of string cheese. I know nothing about such things but the people I DO know, just find who has what they want, and go up and ask. amazing to me.

[Terri L]

Hi Robert,
Just to let you know, I am a RR member with no children and yet I am passionate about getting these kids FED for school. If there were a call for monetary support, I would be happy to put my money where my heart is.

Terri Louise

[Robert V]

Thank you very much, but I'd rather figure out the financial aspects myself. But I do appreciate the offer. But I'm sure kids in your local communities are in just as much need as my own.

But you guys gave me an idea that I overlooked. The Judo instructor at Michigan State University is a 20+year manager at a local supermarket. I'm sure he might be able to help.

Thank you so much!

[Connie Brown]

okay Robert, you are right about our local communities. I just got excited about the two teachers I know of who actually get it about the diet connection and are willing to put changes in practice. It's the combo of the teacher and the knowledge and the willingness!

how about it Elaine? do you prefer to do fundraising locally too?

[earnold8]

Connie, I have never thought about doing any kind of fundraising. Although I am in a fairly underpriviledged area, it is not as bad as it was in Cleveland. For the most part, parents will send a snack with their kids if they think they need it. I am going to try this year to require a snack, siting things from LSA to hopefully get them to buy into the idea that their kids need to eat some kind of protein during the school day. It will be better, hopefully, after our Back to School night when we can actually talk to the parents in person. That is Sept. 15. I have always spent a lot of my own money on the kids. I have backed off of that a bit since doing the food...mostly because I don't buy the junk I used to and the programs we are now using take up so much time. I used to do a lot of cooking in my classroom and still do a little, but not nearly what I have done in the past...and all of that came out of my pocket, except the one year I got a grant.

Robert, I have a list of healthy snacks on my computer at school. I will get it tomorrow and post it here for you. I don't know if you are doing the Radiant Recovery Program or not, but if you are, we have a list for teachers that I am the liaison of. It isn't always very active, but we could always use more voices if you are interested. There is also a parents' list and they talk about snacks and schools there too.

This was a great question and something that we all need to work on diligently. We will change things, but it will take time. It would be wonderful if our schools would get involved, but as I said before...we need to start with one teacher at a time...one child and one class at a time. Hopefully, this will spill over to our school districts as well.

Elaine

[radiantkd]

Robert,

Sorry I am late coming in on this. Ok, I have some practical ideas.
Add info into your curriculum. Teach the kids what proteins are. Cut out pictures. Draw. Have them look in the stores. put pictures up onthe walls.

Then have a bring some protein from home day. Might be an egg, might be a cheese stick, might be a meatball. First graders only need a little.
Put all the proteins in a stash in the center of the room and have a picnic.

Then have the kids critque which they liked best.

The next week, have another protein day but this time have them figure out how much protein they need to eat for the day. Yes, 6 years olds can learn this. make a big chart. Have them bring in a snack enough for a meal so they can see how different sized kids need different amounts.

Then do the same thing with brown carbs. Do it for two weeks.

then tell them that snack time means 1/2 of a meal and say you want to try an experiement for a week. Have them bring in a snack every day.
Do not assume that the parents are not involved. Assume that the kids will get excited and can manage this. Talk to the kids about whether their parents can help. If they say no, then do problem solving with them. Who shops. Maybe they shop at the 7/11 and can chose eggs.
Keep me posted step by step.


kathleen

[Jude_OZ]

Hi Robert

What you are doing for these children is wonderful. You are giving them a great start in life. It was wonderful to see Coach Sonnon introduce the donation concept and it was excellent to see so many people donate. I admire you for going above and beyond your job to give these kids a great education in not only maths etc. but in generosity. They will remember what you do for them in years to come and hopefully will aspire to do the same for others. When I read your post today and then read the posts of those who donated I was really touched by the generosity of yourself and the ‘donors’.

I have listed a few ideas I had for some economical and easy to prepare snacks and lunches. Some of the ingredients may have a different name in the USA but I hope it makes sense. :D

Lunch/snack suggestions

- Muesli bar slice (recipe below)
- Little pots of dried fruit, toasted muesli and nuts on each desk
- Damper with jam/jelly, spreads, salads etc (recipe below)
- Bowls of carrot sticks, cheese, celery sticks, sliced hard boiled eggs etc.
- Perhaps a big fruit salad – have a day each week that the kids bring in a piece of fruit each and it gets chopped up and put in a big bowl to share



Muesli bar slice

This is an extremely versatile recipe, you can add or leave out anything you like.

Rolled Oats
Dried fruit (anything you like)
Melted honey
A few tablespoons of flour
Instead of oats and dried fruit you could use premix muesli

Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix together until it forms a sticky consistency – add whatever amounts of ingredients you like – you may need to add a little more flour if it is too sticky. Spread into a baking tray and pack firmly. Bake in the oven (about 380F) for about 10 minutes or until set. Cut into slices.


Damper

Flour
Pinch of salt
Milk
Water

Mix together until in a dough like consistency (add as much of each ingredient as required)
Form a ball and flatten slightly. Bake in oven (about 380F) for about 20 minutes or until cooked inside. (Can be wrapped in aluminium foil to cook)

Variations
- add chocolate bits and a tablespoon of sugar before baking
- add cheese, semidried tomatoes, herbs etc.

Damper is an Australian bush version of bread that was (and still is) traditionally cooked in the coals of a campfire. The ingredients are very cheap and its extremely easy to cook so it makes it a very economical form of bread. Damper is great served warm with jam or butter but can be cooked the night before and broken into pieces and served with anything at all.

Good luck :D