Dinner Debate Over Healthy Snacks In School: One Mother's Cheesy Recipe

Memorial Day and family reunions go together like stars and strips. Generations gather and typically at some point during the dinner someone's casual comment stirs emotions into a heated debate. So it was at our family dinner when my cousin commented on the difficulty of finding a variety of healthy snacks for her children to bring to school.

"So send unhealthy ones," was one response to wave away the ensuing debate. But conscientious parents can't. "The future of our American school children depends on what they nibble at school!" was the cry by some at our family's dinner table. Childhood obesity is rising right here in our schools. Heart disease and diabetes stalk our little ones. In response, school boards are barring the door to empty calories. The era of birthday cupcakes is passed. Any snack a child brings to school must not exceed strict limits on sugar and fat. And, (the kicker)...the parents are required to supply this nutritious, daily snack for their children's class. The mother of three at our reunion admitted stress over continually checking snack bag labels for sugar and fat content.

Concerned over her concern, the older generation at the dinner table said, "So don't send snacks. We never had snacks in school. That's the cause of obesity, -all that school snacking."

"But the children need snacks during the day," the younger generation defended. "They can't think well if they're hungry. Because of school lunch schedules, some classes don't eat lunch until 12:30, so those children need a morning snack. The classes that have to eat lunch at 10:45 need an afternoon snack. We want them to learn and be healthy and nutritionists say it's best to eat many small meals throughout the day!"

"Argh, we learned and we had three square meals a day," continued the over-seventy crowd. Continue reading for the rest of the debate and an easy recipe for make-ahead, baked cheese snacks that kids can take to school.

"That's right," the younger parents agreed, "You started the day with a good breakfast. Many children today leave for school with only a snack bar in their stomachs, or less!" (I was relieved to hear that I was not the only parent at the table whose children's breakfast consisted of a granola bar and milk. I had been feeling guilty about this, now I felt fashionable.)

"Of course we had a good breakfast!" the older ones exclaimed. "Mother made us sausages and eggs and cereal every morning, and by God we had better have eaten them!" Then a true confession slipped out when one elder quietly added, "And I hated it. I don't like eating first thing in the morning."

The younger ones seized on his hushed comment. "That's right! A lot of children won't eat anything before they leave the house. They're not hungry."

"So wake them up earlier so they will be hungry."

I'm sure you see where this debate was going. If I were to be a conscientious parent like my grandmother, I would have to rise pre-dawn to prepare a mega-calorie breakfast for sleepy children whom I would have to prematurely drag away from slumber. None-the-less, this Herculean effort would not solve the problem at hand. Regardless of what my children ate for breakfast, I was still required to supply healthy snacks for my children's classes at school.

Last week, the problem of healthy school snacks came home in a note from my daughter's third-grade teacher. Apparently, the third graders had been so well-behaved that they had earned a whole day of snacking. The note instructed that on Thursday each child should bring a healthy snack to share which would be put out on a smorgasbord table in the classroom. The children would be given plates and any time throughout the day, they could get snacks to eat at their desks. This reward definitely confused the debate about healthy eating at school. But I didn't sacrifice my brain cell activity trying to figure it out; I just made some snacks. I chose a snack recipe that I know kids like and requires zero sugar, (just don't give these cheesy snack crackers to a cardiologist).

I got the recipe for Wisconsin cheese crackers from the cookbook, Wisecrackers: Recipes from the Ritz and Famous. Here it is:

• 1 cup Wisconsin butter
• 2 cups Wisconsin cheddar cheese, grated
• 2 cups unbleached flour, sifted
• 1 egg yolk and 1 Tablespoon milk - beat together for Egg Wash Topping

Cream butter and cheese until light. Gradually blend in flour. Chill mixture for at least 1 hour. Roll dough on floured board to about 1/4 -inch thickness and cut into 2-inch squares. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and brush with Egg Wash on top of squares. Bake in preheated 325 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown. Makes 3-4 dozen.

What I especially like about this appetizer recipe is that it can be made ahead of time, and stored in the refrigerator for several days. It's an easy, party food recipe that turns the conventional cheese and cracker appetizer on its head. Serve these Wisconsin cheese crackers slightly warm and they really taste terrific!

Comments

[chanel bags]

Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

[Amanda]

I completely agree with not forcing kids to eat big meals. Doing so only creates future eating habits that can lead to poor adult health. I myself prefer to nibble food throughout the day rather than sit down to large meals. I feel better for it, but I admit, I get hungry faster.

[Fun snacks for kids]

Many children tend to eat frequently through the day as their bodies require. One should not force children to eat more and more like adults do. A child under the age of four or five might eat six to seven times a day. One can give fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain crackers, cheese cubes, peanut butter-cheese sandwiches into daily snacks. Also can try can try a yoghurt shake with fruit of choice. Try to avoid pre-packaged snacks because its unhealthy. One can go for milk-based drinks because it rich in proteins, calcium, iron, also fruit juice will be good.