Healthy Parties
From birthday to holiday parties throughout the school year, children, teachers and families have numerous reasons to celebrate. Celebrations are a great way for children to feel part of the school community, where the learning environment is made festive and where everyone can come together to enjoy a break from the routine. Parties often center around food, such as cupcakes, cookies, candy, chips and sugary beverages. While these foods, in moderation, can be part of a healthy, well-balanced diet, these unhealthy choices have almost become daily norms in the classroom, rather than exceptions.
Tips to Take Action:
Break the cycle and incorporate a suggestion from Action for Healthy Kids’ to host healthy and active parties in your school:
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- Is your school new to healthy celebrations? Use these 10 Tips for Making the Switch to Healthy Celebrations as your guide.
- For birthdays, pick one day each month and celebrate all that month’s birthdays on that day, as opposed to having multiple birthday celebrations.
- Focus on FUN rather than FOOD.
- Schedule parties after lunch rather than in the morning to ensure students eat a full, nutritious lunch. Make these parties “snack parties” instead of full meals.
- Remember to be mindful of food allergies, particularly when introducing new foods.
- Work with your parents to create a list of food allergies for all student to be distributed at the beginning of the year to specify what food to bring in for celebrations.
- Engage students by asking for their opinion on types of healthy foods or physical activity games they would prefer for their celebration.
- Make it a learning experience and celebrate students’ cultural heritage with traditional crafts, games and stories.
- Incorporate special guests into the celebrations. For example, invite parents to come in and read a book or visit the principal’s office for a special surprise such as a pencil or sticker.
- Swap out the traditional party foods for healthier options that reinforce messages children are learning about healthy eating in health class and in the school cafeteria. Some healthier options to eat better include trail mixes, fruit kabobs and flavored water. Class party ideas to move more could be going for a walk or hike, having extra time during art or music class, or playing a class game of kickball.
- Add movement whenever possible! Incorporate a brain break energizer or song and movement before starting your celebration.
- Have students bring in their favorite music and have a “dance party.”
- Create a plan to navigate challenges with parents who prefer to bring in cupcakes. The inclusion of healthy celebrations in the classroom has several benefits including:
- Healthy kids learn better
- Provides consistent positive nutrition messages
- Promotes a healthy school environment
- Creates excitement about nutrition
- Remember to be a role model for your students by talking about the fruits and vegetables and other healthy items you like to eat. Ask them what fruit(s) or vegetable(s) they tried in the cafeteria. The most adventurous tasters can join you for a special lunch with the teacher!
- It is very important to ensure that students with disabilities are full participants in class celebrations. These are opportunities for creating cohesion and social support for students.
Healthy Fundraisers
How many fundraisers does your school do each year? Fundraisers provide money for a variety of school improvements, student scholarships, equipment and other activities not covered by the school’s budget. Healthy fundraising is a public demonstration of your school’s commitment to promoting healthy, consistent behaviors among students, families and communities at large while helping your school meet financial needs.
Tips to Take Action:
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- Review current fundraising strategies at your school. What healthy fundraisers are you already doing? Are there less nutritious fundraisers that could be healthier? How much money is made with fundraisers each year?
- Check to see if your school meets Smart Snacks Standards which outlines what can be sold during the school day.
- Engage and educate your school administration and school fundraising groups (e.g. Friends Groups, Action Teams, Parent Teacher Associations, etc.) on the importance of healthy fundraising ideas and Smart Snacks Standards. Invite these group members to join the school wellness team to share ideas and discuss challenges.
- Consider active fundraisers such as walk-a-thons, fun runs, dance-a-thons and hop-a-thons, or host a sports tournament for dodgeball, volleyball, soccer, basketball, bag toss, etc.
- Instead of selling foods, sell non-edibles such as flowers, seed packets, school merchandise, school supplies, holiday gifts, etc.
- Consider service fundraisers such as providing childcare for “parents night out,” car washes, sports clinics, coat check at school dances or parent events, etc.
- Ask local community businesses to sponsor your fundraiser, donate products or space, or provide prizes or discounts for students who fundraise a certain amount.
Click here to watch our Healthy Fundraising Webinar.