Snacks and Nutrition
Allergies
Woodinville Toddler Group is a peanut-product and nut-free environment and kindly discourages all other nut products. Peanut products should not be used in any snack, including foods prepared for potluck celebrations and evening parent events.
If your child has food allergies, it is your responsibility to alert your Class Coordinator, instructor, and other caregivers in the class. All food allergies should be posted on the bulletin board in the snack room; the information will be added to the weekly email as well.
Parents on our Board of Directors with food allergies should alert the Board president and other members. This will help in food preparation for our evening Board meetings.
Snack Time and Clean-up
Start of Snack Time:
Check to make sure everything is picked up and put away before getting ready for snack time.
Take your child to wash hands in either of the bathrooms. Please don’t use the sink in the classroom.
Grab your snack from your bag and proceed to the green room.
Find a spot at one of the three snack tables and enjoy your snack!
Following snack and before attending circle:
Clean up your immediate area including picking up any larger pieces of food on the ground.
Stack your chairs over by the art drying rack and easel.
Put your personal snack items back in your bag.
Join the group for reading and circle time!
General Snack Guidelines
Children must sit on their bottoms with their chair pushed in at the tables; food must be consumed at the tables only. This is consistent with our risk management guidelines. Please do not allow your child to walk around with food in their mouth or to take food with them to circle. Adults may kneel down by the tables or sit in extra chairs next to their child. Please encourage children to assist with wiping up spills with the washcloth provided and with clearing their place. Waxed cups, napkins, and food scraps can be discarded in the tall, green compostable container.
Children in the 2-3 year old classes should be encouraged to pour their own water. Families in the 1-2 year old classes may want to bring a sippy cup for their child; particularly in early fall. The paper cups are not very durable. Please discourage children from kicking the table while eating; this activity is often contagious! Snack is an appropriate time to give announcements.
Wobblers Parents would follow the above guidelines on cleaning tables, eating at tables, sweep, and cleaning up after snack.
Snacks should be simple, nutritious, and satisfying. Some healthy snack suggestions are:
cheese and crackers
mini-muffins
peeled apple wedges, bananas, melons
satsumas (fun to peel)
string cheese
yogurt
rice cakes
whole grain cereals
cooked pasta
mini-bagels
Young children are at risk of choking on foods. The risk decreases after age six, although any food may cause choking; regardless of age. Beverly Pressey, MS, RD, author of Simple & Savvy, lists the following foods as possible choking foods for toddlers:
frankfurters and meat (cut lengthwise and into smaller pieces or shredded)
crisp fruits (peel and slice thin or steam)
lettuce and spinach (cut into small pieces and steam)
nuts and seeds – avoid, do not serve at WTG
peanut butter- avoid, do not serve at WTG
whole grapes, cherries with pits (cut into quarters, remove seeds and pits)
hard candy, chewing gum- avoid, do not serve at WTG
raw carrots, celery, green beans, peas (cut in small pieces and steam or simmer)
popcorn or tortilla chips- avoid, do not serve at WTG
beans, noodles, cookies, teething biscuits- (cook well, soft cookies only)
processed cheese- avoid, do not serve at WTG
fruit snacks- avoid, do not serve at WTG
Foods that are small and round, of thick consistency, sticky, slippery, or hard to chew, should be avoided. Children must always be seated and supervised while eating. Please do not serve any foods containing raw honey.
Celebrations at WTG
Birthdays may be celebrated during circle time. Please notify your instructor and Class Coordinator of your child’s birthday prior to circle. Please do not bring cupcakes or sweet treats for birthdays. Potlucks are encouraged several times throughout the school year. We have potlucks during the last class before holiday break in December and the all-school picnic in June. These potlucks offer an opportunity for families to come together in friendship and conversation.
