Aug

24

Pre-School Snacks: How To Handle Unhealthy Snacks At School

Filed Under Food Safety, Healthy Schools | 24 Comments

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    Now that I am a seasoned preschooler Mom I can offer some valid advice on the subject of snacks.   If you have a child in preschool, chances are they observe a daily snack time.  Depending on your school, they handle it different ways.  Some schools provide the snacks for the kids – and they are restricted by budget.  Or you might have a situation where the parents are in charge of snacks.  If you’re one of the lucky ones, you send in your own childs snack and have full control over what they eat.  Our school uses a weekly parent contributed snack schedule and we sign up for “snack weeks” where we provide snack for the class that week.  Whatever your situation is, (aside from those who can chose their child’s snack) chances are you are allowing others to choose a snack for your child.

    Like it or not, everyone doesn’t know what a “healthy” snack is.  So kids are snacking on things like chocolate pudding cups, gummy fruit snacks (so bad for their teeth!!!), cookies, candy and whatever else people can find in the prepackaged snack aisle.  I list these as evidence – these were actual snacks parents were sending in when we started preschool.  I understand (more than I wish to) how BUSY life is.  It’s much easier to grab a package of prepacked snacks at the store and be done with it.  But many times they are loaded with extra sugar, high fructose corn syrup, fat, preservatives, food coloring or just plain have zero nutritional value at all.  Preschoolers need to learn now, while they are still eager to accept healthy ideas, that snacks should have some kind of nutritional value.

    Now before you get all “Oh give me a break, it’s just a SNACK, get over it.“, let me just say this.  I am not as uptight as you might think.  I don’t buy junk for my own home (usually) but if they eat a cookie or have ice cream at a party I don’t flip out and bring my own Frozen Rice Cream with Tofu Chunks as an alternative.  Kids get treats.  That’s ok once in a while.  But between the holiday parties and the birthday’s… preschoolers are eating cupcakes and sweets every time you turn around. Already they gave my 2 year old cupcakes the first day of school for a birthday.  (He is going to think you get cupcakes at preschool every day now!) So the rest of the week, should be a reprieve from all that and snacks should fuel their brains to power through the day.  Not give them a high from corn syrup, trans fat and food coloring.

    But What Do I Do About It?

    There are a few things you can do that I have tried and tested which seem to at least help push the class parents and the school in a better direction with regards to school snacks. (Warning: You may have to do this every year)

    • If the parents provide snacks, you can speak to or write to the school director or teacher and request that they send a letter home explaining what a “healthy snack” entails.  Some parents don’t think about it so it’ll be a nice reminder.
    • Provide a written list of healthy snack ideas that they can share with the letter so parents have a reference.  Providing a list also increases the chance that the school will follow through.  Less work for them and more healthy stuff on the list from you.  Win win.
    • Be an example.  When it’s your turn to bring snack, up the ante.  Go out of your way to bring in something healthy.  I’ve been up at the crack of dawn sectioning grapes into 15 little containers, or popping popcorn in the morning and putting them in bags.  It’s a pain but it’s worth it!

    If your school provides snacks then you’ll have more of a challenge ahead of you since the school runs on a budget and can’t usually afford fresh fruit daily.

    • Again, speak to a director of the preschool program and voice your concerns.  Nothing will change unless you try.  Even if you get nowhere, at least you made an attempt.  Find out what their rules are and see if you can help them make room for a healthy option one day a week to start.
    • Offer to bring snacks in for the class (if they allow it) on a semi regular basis. That way you can control it at least a few times.
    • See if you can send your child in with their own snack.  I don’t usually like this option but if the snacks are truly horrible then doing this might be your only option.  I tend to not agree with options that single a child out of a group.  I’d rather my son eat cookies than be odd man out. But that’s just me… you may feel differently and that’s ok too!

    It might be uncomfortable to do these things.  From experience though, if you don’t do it, no one else will.  It’s not like you’re asking them to only serve organic food to the whole school. You’re just asking them to kick it up a notch in the healthy department.

    List of Healthy Snacks to Share With your Teacher or School

    • Whole grain crackers, pretzels
    • Sliced up apples, pears, peaches, etc
    • Grapes, Berries (cut in half for the wee ones – choking can be an issue so take heed)
    • Bananas (Frozen on a stick works like a charm)
    • Carrot Sticks (low fat cream cheese dip?)
    • Celery (w/ peanut butter* or cream cheese)
    • Veggie Sticks w/ Hummus
    • Cucumber Slices (kids love these!)
    • Air Popped Popcorn
    • Small yogurts (low sugar)
    • Low fat cheese and crackers
    • Whole Grain Cereal (ex: Kashi Heart-to-Heart – look for high fiber, low sugar)
    • Granola Bars (low fat, low sugar)
    • Unsweetened Apple Sauce
    • Fruit Kabobs (great for class parties)
    • Oatmeal Bars
    • Whole Grain Muffins (minis)
    • Raisins
    • Trail Mix (if there are no allergies)
    • Plain Graham Crackers (surprisingly more healthy than cheese crackers)
    • Dried Fruit or Fruit strips (without added sugar)
    • Fig Cookies
    • Mini Whole Wheat bagels and cream cheese
    • Mini Muffins (preferably whole wheat or oatmeal)

    With this age group its best to keep it simple and remember that you can’t please every kid in class.  It’s also important to respect any food allergies as well. I’ve been known to cop out and send in a box of Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies when the week gets hectic, so no one will be perfect every time but if everyone tries, it’ll at least improve over Ding Dongs and Twinkies.

    Thanks to my Facebook Fan Kristie for inspiring this post!  I love my Facebook fans… if you haven’t joined the fun please come hang out with us on Facebook.

    What are your snack ideas for preschoolers? I’m sure all you creative parents out there have some fun (and easily portable) snack recipes to share with me!

    *IMPORTANT NOTE: I may not have emphasized it but always be sure to check with teachers about allergies in the class. If there are, you should always read the labels to make sure you’re avoiding those important ingredients.

    Aug

    12

    Safer Nap Mats by Wildkin (Giveaway from The Glass Baby Bottle!)

    Filed Under Giveaways Coupons, Product Safety | 190 Comments

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      Those of you who have kids starting in preschool this year may or may not be looking for a nap mat.  When my youngest son started a long day program they told me he needed a nap mat for their rest time.  Ok.  So I asked where to buy it and they directed me to their stash in the main office.  Horrified, I bought a vinyl trifold mat filled with foam (and likely doused with flame retardants).  I lost sleep over it.  So when I got home I SCOURED the internet for something better.  At the time all I could come up with was some handmade ones on Etsy and lucky for me (sarcasm) she stopped making them. I found a “phthalate free” version of the nap mat (KinderMats I think) but it was still filled with flame retardant foam.  I even contacted a safe mattress company and said “The world needs safe nap mats, please make some, I’m begging you“.  Long story short I never got my hands on anything decent and I still cringe at the thought of my kid laying on that toxic infestation.  Ok I’m being dramatic but it bugged me.

      SafeParents, you now have an OPTION.  Let us rejoice. Finally.  A company called Wildkin, which is a new discovery for me this year, makes all kinds of things for kids like back packs, lunch bags, pencil cases and yes NAP MATS.  These smooshy nap mats are naturally flame retardant and never treated with toxic chemicals.  YAY! No vinyl, no phthalates, no lead, and no flame retarding chemicals.  These are totally worth it.  If I had the option I would have pounced.

      They come in a variety of cute patterns for boys and girls and they also feature a detachable pillow and an attached blanket that has a cotton flannel interior.  You can roll them up and fasten them with velcro and have a handy carrying handle.  They are totally machine washable too.  These are perfect for day cares and preschools that require a nap mat, and would make a cute sleeping bag for home or travel.  I love these and am so glad to have found a safer alternative to those vinyl foam mats.

      OMG Where Can I Get One?: You can get Wildkin Nap Mats from one of my absolute favorite non-toxic resources The Glass Baby Bottle (and by the way I am so jealous that I didn’t have one of these when I needed one.)  They also carry a great variety of  items for baby and kids. They are an awesome family run business and I love supporting her and her family by shopping with them.  I hope you will too.

      WIN A NAP MAT!

      The Glass Baby Bottle (Have I mentioned I love them?) has so generously offered to give a Wildkin Nap Mat to one of my readers.  If you win you can choose one mat in the pattern of your choosing (based on availability). Lucky!!!

      Here’s How To Enter (Required):

      Visit The Glass Baby Bottle and have a look around.  Let me know in the comments what items they carry that would help you the most in leading a less toxic lifestyle.

      For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count and you must have already completed the required entry method above):

      • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
      • Fan/Like  The Glass Baby Bottle on Facebook (first name, last initial)
      • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
      • Follow @GlassBabyBottle on Twitter (Twitter name)
      • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
      • Follow me on Google Friend Connect!
      • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments): Enter to #WIN a safer nap mat from @GlassBabyBottle on @SafeMama! #giveaway ends 8/19 http://ow.ly/67KRp

      One US winner will be selected at random using Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until August 19, 2011 at midnight EST.  Good Luck!  Thank you to The Glass Baby Bottle for this great giveaway!

      Congratulations to Marla W., Commenter #28!

      Aug

      10

      New Cheat Sheets for Back to School

      Filed Under Food Safety, PVC Free | 4 Comments

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        Hi all!  I know some of us are already back IN school this week but I’ve put up a new version of the Safer Lunch Gear cheat sheet this morning which was revised somewhat from last year’s.  I removed a thing or two and added some new brands.  There are tons of great reusable (and toxin free) lunch systems on the market now in a variety of price points so I think there is something in there for everyone.

        Since many people expressed a desire to find a safe backpack I separated backpacks out into their own Safer Backpacks cheat sheet.  My requirements are the same for backpacks as they are for lunch gear.

        A thing to note about making selections when it comes to supplies and gear for kids.  Choosing a product is tough sometimes and while I only list products that the companies claim to be PVC, Lead and Phthalate free – it is a matter of trust too.  Some companies hide behind a broad “meets the standards” statement and other sing it loud and proud that they are completely free of toxins and have ethical practices.  It’s up to us as consumers to put our money where we think it’s best deserved.

        I always wonder why I have to go digging within a company hotline or live chat to find out that the product is safe from lead or PVC.  If it is like they say, why not boast it right in the product description page like the small businesses that take care to avoid those things for us? Why make it so hard for us to find out?  In cases of the bigger vendors I noticed that the customer service reps were a little non-chalant about their answers.. “Yeah sure it’s free of all that stuff” or in some cases they’d tell me yes they were free of lead, phthalates, etc but couldn’t cough up any solid information about 3rd party testing.  So keep that in mind when making selections.

        Some things should be seen as an investment.  I’m on a budget too but you can be budget conscious while supporting the companies that really care.

        You can find these cheat sheets and all the other cheat sheets I have available in the CHEAT SHEET section of the website.  There is a link up top to direct you to the master list.  As always, I am happy to hear from you and if you think I missed a brand worthy of the SafeMama stamp of approval, please feel free to let me know.

        Aug

        1

        Earth Mama’s How Low Can You Go Challenge!

        Filed Under Giveaways Coupons, Skin Care, Take Action | 22 Comments

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          It’s Toxic Limbo time! Sing with us, “All around the natural world, gonna get the toxins out!” How low can YOU go when it comes to safe, natural personal care products? Take the Earth Mama How Low Can You Go Challenge to find out!

          Here’s the challenge:

          Gather some of the most common pregnancy and baby care products you use regularly on your pregnant body or on your baby. You

          can include shampoo, lotions, soaps, diaper cream, stretch mark oil, hemorrhoid cream, etc.  Go to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics’ Skin Deep database and enter a product name in the search field (for example, Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash). Look for the Hazard

          Score for that product. The Hazard Score tells you the toxicity rating: 0 is lowest, 10 the most toxic. Click the product if you want to see specifically which ingredients add up to create that score. If your product isn’t listed, ask yourself why.  Is there something in the ingredients list that the company might not want you to see?  If your product isn’t listed, you can enter individual ingredients to check their toxicity rating.

          Add up the Skin Deep toxicity rating for all the personal care products that you use on a daily basis on your pregnant or nursing body, or on your baby, to find out what your score is. Then answer these questions.

          1. What was your Skin Deep toxicity rating score?
          2. Were you surprised with the score and/or ingredients?
          3. What would you like your score to be?

          Don’t worry – there are no right or wrong answers, and everyone wins when mamas are informed and empowered. The biggest surprise is how high the toxin score can be, even for products that are labeled “natural” or “organic.” The only way to lower your score is to know what to look for, and there’s a whole tricky business trying to trick busy mamas with unclear labeling. That’s why Earth Mama supports the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011.

          Please Take Action!

          The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 needs your support! The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 (H.R.2359) is designed to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority to ensure that personal care products are free of harmful ingredients and that ingredients are fully disclosed. It’s pretty simple, right? Earth Mama Angel Baby is hoping you’ll use this handy action tool from our friends at the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics to tell your rep to close the loopholes that allow “cancer-causing chemicals in baby shampoo, hormone disruptors in fragrance and lead in lipstick.”

          Enter to Win Some Earth Mama Angel Baby Goodies!

          One random participant will win Earth Mama’s A Little Something for Baby, filled with zero toxin essentials for an angel on the go. (Set includes naturally safe Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash, best selling, rash busting Angel Baby Bottom Balm, soothing Angel Baby Lotion and pure, virtually scent-free Angel Baby Oil)

          Complete the following steps to enter: (required)

          1. Take the How Low Can You Go challenge
          2. Use the Action Tool to contact your representative
          3. Leave a comment on this entry sharing your score from the How Low Can You Go Challenge
          One US winner, who has completed all three steps above, will be selected at random using Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until August 15, 2011 at midnight EST.  Good Luck!

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