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| | Where do you stand? Healthy Foods or Junk Foods for Children's Ministry Snacktime? Healthy Foods for snack time - The facts are we are in a child obesity epidemic and more and more adult onset diabetes is showing up in children. If we are called to do what's best for children shouldn't we be serving only healthy food snacks in our children's ministry programs? With creative presentation, we can turn fresh fruits and veggies and low salt/low fat snack alternatives into snacks that kids will learn to love! Give them what they need! Junk Food for snack time - The facts are that we have become a DIET obsessed nation. Anorexia and an obsession to be super-skinny is epidemic. Wouldn't we be sending the wrong message to our children, if we serve them "diet food"during Children's Ministry snacktimes. It's not junk food, it's fun food! Carrot sticks, fresh fruit, and salt-free pretzels are punishment, not snacks! Kids want candy, cookies, and salty/crunchy carbs, so give them what they want. Kid's have high metabolisms so a little fat and sugar won't hurt them. Give them what they crave!
Lisa B from NC |
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| I pick Healthy Snacks, but not because of an obesity epidemic or anything like that. Overall, my little darlings are not pleasant to be around, nor are they able to focus as well, when they have sugary snacks. I am not a stickler for absolutely no junk food. I just try to avoid it when possible. Junk food is great, even a must for parties, but I don't think it has a place in a learning environment.
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| I should also mention that our little darlings largely come from disadvantaged homes where the best (and maybe only) meal they get is what they are offered at school. By offering healthy snacks, we are helping to meet a need for some of these kiddos. I have NEVER had a child turn away a healthy snack I have offered.
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| I would love any ideas on what to offer. What kinds of snacks do you give?
Jackie
~~Zeph 3:17~~ |
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| | Since I teach at morning time we do a light cracker snack, or light popcorn for the 5's. I also follow the lead of the parents--one family that comes does mainly organic, lately her daughters have brought their breakfast with them (smoothie and bananna). Looked yum to me! |
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| I like to offer easy stuff...crackers, cheese crackers, string cheese, apples, bananas, grapes, peanut butter and celery, uncrustables, goldfish, jello (sugar free usually), applesauce. Really, anything that isn't loaded with sugar and can be prepared and eaten quickly.
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| | We've been giving our 5th & 6th Grade Bible Study Group (CLUB 56) candy and junk because it was easy. This past Sunday, I had a ton of fresh cut fruit (grapes, orange slices and honeydew) left over from a Saturday event, so we decided to use that for snack. We gathered around a large table and let the kids choose what they wanted. They filled their bowls to the brim and even asked for seconds. The fellowship around the table was enhanced by the kid encouraging other kids to try a fruit they said they didn't like.. (some had never tried honeydew melon). They asked if I could bring watermelon next time. The leader told me it was the best snacktime so far.
Lisa B from NC |
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| | We use whatever correlates with our lesson. We never serve a snack that does not have a tie in to the lesson. It is just another reinforcement. We are not picky about healthy vs junk, because we use both. Since there is not any scientific proof that sugary snacks cause hyperactivity, it is not something we discuss (there are people on both sides of that issue-lol). |
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