Snack Guidelines - 2-Day, 3-Day, 4-Day, JK, Tots 1 & 2

Each day assisting parents bring a nutritious snack for the class. Snack time is a lively yet relaxing time where students and teachers can sit together, and enjoy some nourishment and conversation. Park West, like other schools, has many children with allergies. Some of these allergies are life threatening. In order to do the utmost to protect all of the children in our care, meet Illinois State licensing regulations, and serve healthy, nutritious foods, Park West has thoughtfully developed the following snack guidelines.

We understand our guidelines may feel too restrictive, and some of you may feel we are being overly cautious. Our goal is to keep every child at school as safe as we can. Park West has no nurse on staff. Allergy issues around food are complicated, serious, and an added duty and concern for parents and teachers. We have worked to create a snack policy that is clear, understandable and practical so that adherence is manageable by parents and teachers. Thank you for your cooperation and vigilance.

We encourage parents to bring fresh fruit and veggies for snack. The exceptions are the specific snack items listed below. We find that produce, with or without a few crackers, cereal, pretzels, etc. will suffice for a snack. Filtered tap water is available at school and is served with every snack.

Due to the inconsistency of accurate (and changing) information available on the ingredient labels of packaged foods, only very specific items will be allowed for snack. No substitutions will be allowed, even when ingredient labels read the same. The approved crackers, cereals, pretzels, chips, etc. are listed at the end of the guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation and vigilance.

All food must arrive at school in sealed packages with a legible ingredient label. JK - Please do not send large “Costco” sized boxes of crackers. Once the box is open we cannot serve the remaining contents even if they are individually wrapped.

All food preparation must be done at school, so please don’t wash, cut or prep food at home. Food from bulk bins or salad bars is not allowed.

*Please note: The 3rd floor team room/library is NOT an allergy free zone. This area may contain nut products, dairy, and wheat or other items to which children may be allergic.

***ALL SNACK GUIDELINES ARE MANDATORY***

Due to enrolled student allergies, the following will not be served at Park West during the 2024-2025 school year: 

  • Nuts (peanuts, tree nuts), nut oils, or nut particles and any product that has been made in a facility which processes nuts and that may cause cross contamination.

  • Hummus, garbanzo beans, or products with sesame will not be served due to the possibility of cross reactivity in children with allergies.

  • Dairy in any form, including milk, cheese or yogurt. 

Approved Snack Items

Each day students will be provided a snack during the class period consisting of one of the cracker, cereal or pretzel options below along with a fruit or vegetable item. Filtered water is available at school and is served with every snack.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

● apples ● apricots ● bananas ● blackberries ● blueberries ● cantaloupe ● clementines ● cucumber ● grapefruit ● honeydew melon ● nectarines ● oranges ● peaches ● peppers ● pears ● plums ● pineapple ● radishes ● raspberries ● strawberries ● tangerines ● tomatoes ● watermelon ● zucchini

For JK only: grapes, raw peas, carrots are allowed (these items are choking hazards for children under four years)

Dried Fruit

  • Sun-Maid - Natural California Raisins (Organic, Golden, California varieties)

Please note: These options are very specific, and MUST be only as listed here. Various flavors of pretzels and crackers are not permitted, so please pay attention to the wording we have included (i.e. “original” or “classic style”). 

Also, please make a habit of checking the labels of even the listed items for allergy warnings, as information changes regularly.

Cereals

  • General Mills - Rice Chex, Corn Chex

  • Cheerios - Original

  • Forager Project - Organic Grain Free Os (Cinnamon, Chocolate varieties)

Crackers

  • Back to Nature - Harvest Whole Wheat Crackers

  • From The Ground Up - Cauliflower Crackers (Sea Salt)

  • From the Ground Up - Cauliflower Stalks (Sea Salt)

  • From The Ground Up - Purple Carrot Crackers (Sea Salt)

  • Lundberg Family Farms - Organic Thin Stackers - Brown Rice (lightly salted)

  • Made Good - Star Puffed Crackers (Cheddar, Pizza and Sea Salt flavors)

  • Nabisco - Premium Soup & Oyster Crackers

  • Quaker Oats - Rice Crisps (Apple Cinnamon)

  • Sensible Portions - Garden Veggie Straws (Sea Salt)

  • Triscuit - Original, Organic Original

  • Westminster - Original Oyster Crackers

  • Wheat Thins - Original, Organic

Pretzels

  • Rold Gold - Sticks, Tiny Twists

  • Snyders - Gluten Free Mini Pretzels

  • Snyders - Gluten Free Pretzel Sticks

  • Glutino - Gluten Free Pretzel Twists

  • Glutino - Gluten Free Pretzel Sticks

  • From the Ground Up - Cauliflower Pretzel Twists, Sticks 

Chips

  • Simply 7 - Quinoa Chips (Sea Salt)

  • Enjoy Life Foods - Lentil Chips

  • PopCorners - Sea Salt 

Granola

  • Made Good - Granola Bars (Chocolate Banana, Chocolate Chip, Cookies & Creme, Mixed Berry flavors)

  • Made Good - Granola Minis (Chocolate Banana, Chocolate Chip, Cookies & Creme, Mixed Berry, Strawberry flavors)

Seaweed

  • GimMe - Organic Roasted Seaweed Snacks (Sea Salt)

  • The Original Sea Snax - Organic Roasted Seaweed Snack

Thank you for your cooperation and vigilance.