By Dan Rahn
University of Georgia

Food service providers pay close attention to nutrition and food
safety in school lunchrooms. But they don’t follow the kids home.
They can’t control the quality or safety of your child’s
after-school snacks.

That’s when parents have to step in, said Judy Harrison, an
Extension Service food safety specialist with the University of
Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Parents should consider nutrition and safety when they plan ahead
for their kids’ after-school snacks, Harrison said. They need to
establish safe food-handling practices and set guidelines on the
snacks their children can prepare.

“Moms and dads need to establish some basic kitchen rules and
consider putting them in writing,” she said. “For instance, many
children begin to use the microwave as early as age seven. But
you may not want your child operating this appliance
unsupervised.”

Improper use of a microwave, she said, can result in severe burns.

Safe snacks

“Teach your child four simple steps to keeping food safe,” she
said: “clean, separate, cook and chill.”

• Keep counters and tables clean. Choose someplace else to
  place books, book bags or anything else that might contaminate
  food. Always wash hands with soap and warm, running water for at
  least 20 seconds before touching food. And use clean plates and
  utensils.





• Keep raw foods like meats away from ready-to-eat foods.
  Wash fruits and vegetables with cool, running water before you
  eat them.





• If you’re warming leftovers, make sure you reheat them to
  165 degrees Fahrenheit. Parents should teach their children how
  to use a food thermometer to check the temperature of cooked
  food.





• Put refrigerated foods back in the fridge after your snack
  is ready. If you get the milk out, don’t leave it out. Put it
  back.

Nutritious treats

Harrison said nutrition still counts, even with snacks. “Fresh
fruit and vegetables, peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches, cheese
and crackers, yogurt, bagels, pretzels, cold cereal and milk are
all good choices,” she said.

Older children who have permission to use the microwave can
prepare microwave popcorn (“but hold the butter, please,” she
said), baked potatoes or lower-fat hot dogs. Or they can reheat
leftovers.

The kids deserve a little refreshment after a hard day at school,
Harrison said. Just make sure it’s safely prepared and good for
them.

(Dan Rahn is a news editor with the University of Georgia
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)