Znuni/Gouter/Mid morning snacks list of ideas pls?

Food & Drink, Events and Entertainment
1
Hello!

We are getting all set up for Kindergarten start and I am trying to compile a list of things for Znuni/Gouter/Mid morning snack.

I have the list from zurich city but it is very generic so am wondering if someone has a list of things they buy for this?

We both work so I am not looking for something to be cooked etc every morning, rather something I can buy or easily make.

Thanks for help

K

2
Jacob's cream crackers (plain or with cream cheese), rice crackers, mixed nuts, cucumber, carrots, apple, babybel etc

3
try it with blevita and a lot of fruits

4
Could you perhaps explain what a Znuni is.

I believe it's the snack that kids take to school but as we live in the French speaking part we don't call it that here.

I assume it has to be something 'healthy'. Did they give you a list of 'unsuitable' things?

When my son was that age he didn't really like sweet things so he used to take fruit or vegetables ( carrot sticks, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, sliced raw bell peppers) etc or sometimes a fruit compote and a drink.

I think the other kids thought he was weird at first but some of them also started doing it too.

This was back in Belgium before there were any guidelines on healthy snacks. After a couple of years they gave a list of recommended things and once a week they they had fruit and veg day and the kids took it in turns on a rota basis to take in the snack for the whole class.

5
Top of your list should be anything seasonal because its easy and if you live in any vaguely rural area, most people just pick it off the tree and give it to their children on the way out (soon coming to the plum season then meandering into apples,pears and walnuts) plus crackers to add something more solid (I use dinkel darvida crackers alot to get away from wheat).

Also keep an eye on what you are cooking the night before .. A small, last slice of quiche or homemade pizza is always a bit of a treat in the z'nuni box.

Cured sausage meat is strangely allowed but flavoured yoghurts are not, which always seemed a little strange as the effects of cured processed meat are far more deleterious than the sugar in a yoghurt. Mine take plain yoghurts though.

Philidephia in a little tupperware box is good. They can dip cucumber, pepper, carrot and bread sticks.

Most kids around us keep it very simple .. wholemeal bread and a fruit. The first day my son was at kinsi, we stayed for snack time. One kid got out just a 10 cm long uncut section of cucumber and another started munching on florets of very al dente sounding broccoli!

Check the situation re bananas .. we were told no more than once a week. Oh and give raisins frugally or not at all. They are by far one of the most teeth unkind snacks you can give.

And then once your child makes friends, they will all be hanging around your kitchen at4pm expecting their Z'Veri! For a few years I tried to keep up with our ultra healthy fruit platter and homemade dinkel bread with birnen paste neighbours but eventually gave up in favour of whipping up a 3 egg victoria sponge with raspberry jam filling. Quite clear to me why our house became the mecca for the afternoon playtime sessions! A little of what you fancy never did them any harm!

6
some weeks ago, we could visit the kindergarten at Znüni-time (my daughter will start in two weeks).

One of the children only had some cookies with him.

The teacher noticed it and took it away because of too much sugar (and gave him something else).

Well done!

7
Cucumber with Aromat

Let the flame war begin

8
Here is a list of my daughter's favourites: home made popcorn home made mini carrot, banana or zucchini muffins (low on sugar but she doesn't care). I make then in bulk and freeze them. mini cream cheese or peanut butter sandwiches made with whole wheat bread and cut out with a shaped cookie cutter (she calls these "Mouse Sandwiches" any sort of fruit or veggie fruit "shishkabobs" babybel cheeses, cheese n dipping stick packs, string cheese packs nuts of any sort (they would never allow this back home, but here it is welcomed - no allergies in the class I suppose).

*Edit: bananas and dryed fruit not allowed at all in our kindski, as well as flavoured yogurts or yogurt drinks

9
Our teachers played "a game" with the kids every so often whereby the kids would have their closed box on their knee and teacher would have to guess what was in with hot/cold answers being given. This way, fruit yoghurts, bottled smoothies and repeat bananas were dealt with! This "game carried on for a couple of years into primary at least. It seemed a little intrusive to me but then how else to get the healthy eating message across and at that age they are a captive audience.

Here in Suisse Romande they do not even eat snack together (can just take it out into the playground) and son reports bags of crisps and the like. It was quite a shock for him and a shame because the communal eating (and sharing) of Z'nuni was a very important part of the day for so many more reasons than just eating a healthy snack.

10
Isn't it Babybel full of salt and added nasties? Also Philadelphia?

For adults any cheese works , of course depending on taste, if any health issues etc etc no point to start a whole thread about cheeses now.

But wouldn't it be better to buy some cheese from the farmers or make your own cheese at home , of course if you have a ton of time and you are in the mood?

I make my own fresh cheese at home. It is like cottage cheese but pure, no added stuffs.

Parmigiano is great for the teeth but giving such a salty cheese to kids at school is not a good idea either.

One can feed their kids whatever one wants but it is just a curiosity why Babybel or Philadelphia are loved by parents when they are not so healthy but they complain when their kids eat crisps or sweets or other foods that contains a lot of salrt and added ingredients from other kids?

Few years back I tasted one Babybel and it tasted terrible, it was dry and salty and plasticky.

And Philadelphia tastes like salty, weird consistency butter.

Just asking.

11
Babybel's ingredients: Pasturized cultured milk, salt, and microbial enzymes (so - the ingredients for cheese!)

Philadelphia cream cheese (from the one in my fridge): Milk, cream, milk protein, salt, stabilizer

12
Then they changed the recipe since I ate last time!

Years ago both of these cheese had more ingredients?

13
True about the salt. Salty, to be sure. Added nasties, not so much. I use Frischkaese from aldi - ingredients are: Milk, pasteurized cream and cooking salt. Salt in and of itself is not so bad assuming that they do not eat much during the day. As for the string cheese and cream cheese dipping sticks, those were added to the menu sparingly due to alot of begging and pleading from my girl (her friends were bringing them). Once again, in moderation it does not bother me.

As for the home-making of things, I think that is great! Have not tried making cheese though. Maybe I will give it a try.

14
Well it must have been quite a while ..my eldest is 10 and as far as I remember this was what was in the philly (or other cream cheeses) I've been giving him.

Anything not homemade will contain salt .. So its a question of balance - one babybel or portion of philly a week does not high blood pressure make.

If salt is your demon, I'd worry far more about the everyday products it is found in - bread in particular. Which is why I buy my cheese, but bake my own bread

15
Hmmm, the last time I ate a Babybel it was 7yrs ago and it tasted weird and there were a lot of ingredients. I ate in Belgium. Maybe it wasn't Babybel then...or another type??

I am not afraid of salt...I eat salt . Not too much though but still I eat.

I was just thinking about kids.

I eat home made bread a lot as my lovely husband makes it .

We try to make whatever is possible from scratch: ravioli, torteloni, pasta, special icecreams, sauces, etc etc all by himself. Better to do at least some things in your own kitchen.