Snack Guidelines

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 parents 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 two items to be served for snack on their assigned day. Fresh fruit and veggies, with or without a few crackers, cereal, pretzels, etc. is typically sufficient for 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 during snack at Park West during the 2026-2027 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. 

  • Wheat and/or gluten containing products.

APPROVED SNACK LIST - All Classes

*Please note that the snack list has changed from the 2025-2026 school year. If your child was enrolled last year, please check this new list prior to purchasing snack.

Approved Snack Items

We encourage parents to bring two items to be served for snack on their assigned day. Fresh fruit and veggies, with or without a few crackers, cereal, pretzels, etc. is typically sufficient for snack. Filtered tap 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)

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

Crackers

  • 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)

  • Quaker Oats - Rice Crisps (Apple Cinnamon)

  • Sensible Portions - Garden Veggie Straws (Sea Salt and Sea Salt Made with Avocado Oil varieties)

Pretzels

  • Snyders - Gluten Free Mini Pretzels

  • Snyders - Gluten Free Pretzel Sticks

  • From the Ground Up - Cauliflower Pretzel Twists, Sticks 

Chips

  • Simply 7 - Quinoa Chips (Sea Salt)

  • PopCorners - Sea Salt 

Granola

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

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

Seaweed

  • GimMe - Organic Roasted Seaweed Snacks (Sea Salt)

  • The Original Sea Snax - Organic Roasted Seaweed Snack