Photo courtesy of the school Enjoying a healthy snack at Sawtooth Elementary!
Just a few weeks after Sawtooth Mountain Elementary School in Grand Marais received national attention for its innovative outdoor exercise program, the school has again been highlighted as a “success story,” this time in partnership with the Cook County Schools Health Council. School District 166’s “Safe and Healthy Snack” program was featured in a Minnesota Department of Health report for health leaders and elected officials on the State Health Improvement Program (SHIP) grant in Northeast Minnesota.
ISD 166 was one of three “success stories.” The school was recognized for its efforts to create a “Safe and Healthy Snack” time for Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE), preschool, kindergarten, first and second grades at Sawtooth Elementary.
SHIP coordinator Kristin Wharton explained, “In an effort to help children be at their mental and physical best during the school day and to promote food safety, a snack list was provided for parents this year. In the past, no guidance was provided to families as to what was an appropriate snack food.”
Wharton said the new snack list includes fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain bread products, and low-fat proteins. The list guides families away from known food allergens like peanuts, non-nutritious, high fat and high sugar snacks.
Wharton said parents and teachers have reported overwhelmingly successful results. Ann Redshaw, a first grade teacher, shared, “Parents are sending wonderful snacks. And the kids enjoy them. Kids are trying new foods. While most would probably pick chips instead of carrots, when we are only offering the healthier choices at snack time, they are going for them!”
In a Sawtooth parent survey, the majority of respondents reported that they support healthy food choices for all students.
Future efforts with Safe & Healthy Snack at Sawtooth will focus on increasing healthy options and recipes for the snack list, parent and student nutritional education, positive praise for students, and partnering with local grocers to highlight their healthiest products.
Cook County’s State Health Improvement Program is also supported by Cook County Public Health and the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic. Kristin Wharton is the SHIP contact and can be reached at 387-2273, ext 633.
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