How To: BackPack Buddies
HappyHealthy Supports Backpack Buddies
- Many elementary-age children go home Friday afternoons with no access to healthy foods and balanced meals over the weekend.
- Churches, community organizations, food pantries, and others throughout our state help these children by participating in the Backpack Buddies program.
- HappyHealthy invites you to join us and help provide healthy choices to bridge the weekend food gap.
Here's how to help:
- Donate quantities of our recommended items to participating organizations in your community
- Start a Backpack Buddies program and pack the weekly bags for children who have qualified for the program
Items in each pack should include:
- Kid-friendly (no glass jars, no large cans)
- Individually packaged or small and light enough to carry
- Shelf-stable
- Easy to prepare, even without a stove or other equipment
- Nutritious grains, vegetables, fruits, proteins, and dairy
- Each pack should be in a gallon size zip-top clear plastic bag
- Each bag should weigh 3 -3.5 pounds so it can easily slip into the child’s backpack and be easy to carry
Grains:
- Whole graham crackers
- Plain oatmeal
- Grits
- Pretzels
- Whole grain cereal
Vegetables:
- Tomato sauce
- Diced tomatoes
- Vegetable soup
- Canned vegetables:
- Peas
- Corn
- Green beans
- Carrots
- Mixed vegetables
Fruit:
- Small fresh apples
- Large fresh oranges
- Applesauce
- Raisins
- Canned fruit or fruit cup (in 100% juice or light syrup)
Protein:
- Tuna, salmon, or chicken (canned or packets)
- Peanut butter
- Pecans
- Peanuts
- Beans – cooked or canned
- Kidney
- Pinto
- Black
- Lentils
- Navy
Dairy:
- Shelf-stable low-fat milk
The following amounts are suggested for elementary-aged school children to compare to school breakfasts, lunches, and snacks:
In order to meet the ½ of the recommended nutrition needs for the weekend, each backpack should include:
- 5 ounces Grains
- 2 cups Vegetables
- 1.5 cups Fruit
- 4 ounces Protein
- 3 cups Milk
So get packing! Enjoy the rewards of helping children have the nutritious food they need over the weekend.
It's the HappyHealthy way!
