Choosing healthier snacks

Here at school we support the Change for Life initiative and expect children to bring healthier snacks to school. We don’t expect to see packets of crisps, chocolate biscuits or chocolate bars on our playground as we know that these snacks are not providing the right sort of energy and we want to promote healthier choices.

Of course our children in Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 already have access to a range of fruit and vegetables that they are provided at snack times.

For children in Key Stage 2 there are lots of ways to help your children have a healthier snack. Fresh fruit and veg are always a great choice for a snack but sometimes our children want other snacks, especially those in packages!

The Change for Life initiative suggests when buying packaged snacks, look for '100 kcals, two a day max'. It's to help you make quick decisions on packaged snacks when faced with lots of choice. It's not about calorie counting for the kids.

100 calorie snacks

Parents have asked us for suggestions of what 100 kcal packaged snacks look like. Here are some ideas to get you started and it doesn’t have to cost a lot either.

• Malt loaf – lunchbox size – 28p each
• Fresh fruit & vegetables – 20p for a banana
• Lower-fat, lower-sugar fromage frais – try freezing a frube – 22p each
• Plain rice cakes or crackers with lower-fat cheese
• Sugar-free jelly cubes – 10p a cube
• Plain popcorn (not cinema sweet or toffee varieties) – 16p a bag
• Snack size cheeses such as a Babybell – 23p each.

How to check for 100 calories

You can buy snacks that are 100 calories and lower in sugar. Many products have traffic light labels on the front of the pack. The calories are included on the far left-hand side of the label. Choose snacks with more green and amber on the label, and cut down on snacks that show any reds.