Mary B. Austin Elementary

Please read carefully and thoroughly.

HEALTHY EATING HABITS = HEALTHY KIDS

In order to meet the guidelines established by the Alabama SDE,

Mary B. Austin will continue our course of action in regard to daily snacks,

special snacks for holidays and birthday treats.  In addition, we are attempting to educate our children on a healthy selection of foods and we seek your assistance.

Registered dieticians agree that healthy foods should include the following:

• More fruits
• More vegetables
• Whole grain bread
• Non-fat or low fat dairy products
• 100% fruit juices
• Flavored and non-flavored, non-carbonated water.

We also must refrain from sending any peanut butter (or anything containing nuts) because we have several students who are highly allergic to peanut butter or nut ingredients which may prove deadly to them if inhaled or eaten. Many parents become upset with this restriction, but put yourself in the shoes of the family with the severely allergic child and how grateful you would be for everyone's understanding.

In order to send a healthy snack/lunch for your child, think "kid friendly" ideas such as baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, string cheese, dried fruit, low fat yogurt, sliced bananas, grapes, and sliced apples. If we find healthy foods for the kids to eat, then they'll develop good eating habits that will last a lifetime.

In keeping with our healthy eating requirements, we have changed the options for daily snacks that students may purchase for $ .60 each. We are continuing with our 100% fruit juices and water. We are no longer selling any type of chip that is not baked. Instead we are offering Goldfish snacks, pretzels, popcorn, animal crackers, fruit cereal bars and fruit snacks. Snacks brought from home may not include any type of candy, any carbonated drink, sugary treats, etc. Please be mindful that we are promoting healthy eating habits.

Austin is on the high road in maintaining our high academic standards and protection of our instructional time. Therefore, birthday treats will be limited to kindergarten students ONLY. These snacks will be served during the regularly scheduled lunch time and again will be healthy snacks only. No longer will cupcakes with sugary icing, cookie pies, or sugary treats be appropriate. Begin now to think of healthy snacks that may be brought such as sliced fruit and/or vegetables with low fat yogurt as a dip. Be sure to contact your child's teacher before coming to the school with treats for our students to make sure that they follow the new guidelines established. For students in grades 1-5, we are initiating the Birthday Book concept. To celebrate your child's birthday, purchase an appropriate book, read that book (or a portion/chapter) to the class and then donate the book to your child's classroom library in his name. We have lovely bookplates that we can provide that will be placed on the inside of the donated book for future generations of children to enjoy! If we are honest with ourselves, we know that kids don't need any more sugary treats and what a better way than to promote the love of reading!

We understand that these procedures may be difficult, but we shall rise to the challenge since we know that the end result will be healthier students who will become healthy adults!