August 19, 2004

Allen ISD Guidelines For Bringing Food Into Schools

Allen ISD has put new student nutrition guidelines into place as a result of new rules set by the Texas Department of Agriculture.

The new guidelines allow no more than one nutritious snack per day for students in the classroom under a teacher’s supervision.  The snack cannot be distributed during the school lunch hour.

The Allen elementary schools will no longer allow parents to bring in snacks or baked items for distributing to other students during the school day for the following reasons: 1) most snacks and birthday treats were brought in during the lunch hour and the State policy now prohibits that, and 2) Allen ISD feels that taking away from the school day for birthday treats is not the best use of instructional time.

A list of suggested nutritious snacks is provided on the back of this page for parents to send in with their child during snack time. A longer list of acceptable foods is posted on the Texas Department of Agriculture website (www.squaremeals.org).  The guidelines only apply during the school day and do not affect after school programs and evening events.

Another major change in policy now prohibits anyone other than school food service personnel from selling and distributing food and beverages to students during the school day.

More restrictive guidelines announced in March 2004 were changed by the State in June. The State will also allow each school to conduct three school-wide events where food and beverages other than school meals will be served. For more information contact your school office or the Allen ISD Student Nutrition Department.

The purpose of the new Texas Department of Agriculture guidelines is to promote student health by reducing the opportunities for students to eat foods of minimum nutritional value. Parents can help by providing healthy, low-fat options for their child’s school lunches.

Allen ISD Nutritious Snack Recommendations

Beverages

100% Fruit Juice

· Capri-Sun Fruit Waves juice pouch

· Minute Maid 100% juice box

· Juicy Juice box

Danimals Drinkable Yogurt

Dannon Gogurt

Bottled Water

Milk (non-fat or low-fat, plain or flavored)

Low Fat Grain Foods

Pretzels, any variety

Animal Crackers

· Any brand, un-iced

Graham Crackers

· Honey Maid Cinnamon Sticks

Wheat Crackers

· Wheat Thins

· Triscuits

Additional crackers that meet fat requirements

· Wheat Thins

· Triscuits

· Goldfish Baked Snack Crackers

Additional snacks that meet fat requirements

· Chex Mix

· Munchie Mix, traditional

Vanilla Wafers, any brand

Baked Tortilla Chips with Salsa

Fruit Grain Bars

· General Mills Oatmeal Crisp Fruit ‘n Cereal Bars

· Sunkist Fruit & Grain Bars

· Quaker Fruit & Oatmeal Cereal Bar

· Quaker Fruit & Oatmeal Bites

· Nutrigrain Bars

· Nutrigrain Muffin Bar

Frozen Fruit Bar

· Dreyer Whole Fruit Bar

· Welch’s Fruit Juice Bar

· Breyer’s Fruit Bar

Microwave Popcorn, 94% fat free, any brand

Fresh Fruit

· Marzetti’s Cream Cheese Fruit Dip

Fresh Veggies

· Reduced Fat Ranch Dip