--- title: 5 Tips for Healthy Eating in After School | Extended Notes description: It is essential for educators to foster healthy habits in the students attending their after school or out-of-school time programs. image: https://www.extendednotes.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/5_tips_for_healthy_eating__800x400.jpg --- # 5 Tips for Healthy Eating in After School March 24 - [Home](https://www.extendednotes.com/) - [Articles](https://www.extendednotes.com/blog) - 5 Tips for Healthy Eating in After School Share this Post [mailto:?subject=Sharing%20a%20blog%20post;body=Check%20out%20this%20ExtendED%20Notes%20blog%20post:%20https://www.extendednotes.com/blog/after-school-articles/5-tips-for-healthy-eating-in-after-school](mailto:?subject=Sharing%20a%20blog%20post;body=Check%20out%20this%20ExtendED%20Notes%20blog%20post:%20https://www.extendednotes.com/blog/after-school-articles/5-tips-for-healthy-eating-in-after-school) [Program Development ](https://www.extendednotes.com/blog/tag/program-development) [Physical Activity ](https://www.extendednotes.com/blog/tag/physical-activity) ![5 tips for healthy eating](https://www.extendednotes.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/5_tips_for_healthy_eating__800x400.jpg) ## Healthy Eating Tips for Students   With the alarming statistics of childhood obesity and poor nutrition among U.S. children and youth, it is essential for educators to foster healthy habits in the students attending their after school or out-of-school time (OST) programs. This includes providing healthy after school snacks that contribute to students’ overall health and performance.   We joined [BOOST Collaborative](https://www.boostcollaborative.org/) on Twitter (X) to discuss healthy snacking in after school. They provided great insight and valuable information on promoting healthy eating habits in after school and OST programs. Here are five takeaways from the online discussion:   1. **Parent involvement is key! **Invite parents into your program for snack time and offer them snacks and water. Share information about nutrition with parents to encourage healthy eating at home. 2. **Find creative ways to encourage healthy eating. **Have a taste test of a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, or share examples of other kids living a healthy lifestyle. 3. **Involve students in the process. **Spark their interest by providing hands-on learning activities. Start a garden and have students plant their own fruits and vegetables. Get creative and allow them to make their own snacks, like [fruit kabobs](https://www.food.com/recipe/colorful-fruit-kabobs-304813) or [watermelon pizza](https://www.handmadecharlotte.com/42378/). 4. **Snack healthy on a budget. **Provide water during snack time, and when possible, buy food items in bulk. Also, establish a partnership with a community business, like a fresh market, to obtain discounts on healthy snacks. 5. **Integrate physical activity. **Physical fitness is an important component of healthy living, and this is a great way to get students moving. One suggestion was to make “ants on a log,” and then do the [GoNoodle](https://www.gonoodle.com/) dance, “ants in your pants”. #### Article Categories ![afterschool advocacy icon](https://www.extendednotes.com/hubfs/ExtendED%20Notes%20Blog/afterschool%20advocacy%20icon.svg) After School Advocacy ![bullying safety icon](https://www.extendednotes.com/hubfs/ExtendED%20Notes%20Blog/bullying%20safety%20icon.svg) Bullying and Safety ![leadership icon](https://www.extendednotes.com/hubfs/ExtendED%20Notes%20Blog/leadership%20icon.svg) Leadership & Professional Development ![parental engagement icon](https://www.extendednotes.com/hubfs/ExtendED%20Notes%20Blog/parental%20engagement%20icon.svg) Parental Engagement ![physical activity icon](https://www.extendednotes.com/hubfs/ExtendED%20Notes%20Blog/physical%20activity%20icon.svg) Physical Activity ![program development icon](https://www.extendednotes.com/hubfs/ExtendED%20Notes%20Blog/program%20development%20icon.svg) Program Development ![social emotional learning icon](https://www.extendednotes.com/hubfs/ExtendED%20Notes%20Blog/social%20emotional%20learning%20icon.svg) Social-Emotional Learning ![stem icon](https://www.extendednotes.com/hubfs/ExtendED%20Notes%20Blog/stem%20icon.svg) STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) ![teaching strategies icon](https://www.extendednotes.com/hubfs/ExtendED%20Notes%20Blog/teaching%20strategies%20icon.svg) Teaching Strategies ![extended notes fb page banner](https://www.extendednotes.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ExtendED%20Notes%20Blog/extended%20notes%20fb%20page%20banner.png?width=342&height=130&name=extended%20notes%20fb%20page%20banner.png) [Follow Page ](https://www.facebook.com/385747254841303?ref=embed_page) ![ExtendedNotes_Logo_Knowledge Base-01](https://www.extendednotes.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ExtendedNotes_Logo_Knowledge%20Base-01.jpg?width=300&height=300&name=ExtendedNotes_Logo_Knowledge%20Base-01.jpg) ExtendED Notes 974 followers Connect with us to get the latest Articles & Insights. ## Related Articles ![related post image](https://www.extendednotes.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/kids_robotics__800x400.jpg?width=352&name=kids_robotics__800x400.jpg) #### 7 Activities to Explore Robotics After School The best way to introduce school-age students to robotics is by providing fun, hands-on projects... 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