Healthy Snacks Take the Prize at Howard Middle

T. A. Howard Middle School Health Teacher and Coach, Brad McAlister, took teaching health to a healthy, new level. On Wednesday, February 8th, Coach McAlister held the Healthy Snack Contest. Students were placed in teams of 4-5 students. As a team, the students were challenged to come up with a healthy snack that met strict guidelines. Each snack was required to be 250 calories or less and must contain a fruit or vegetable.

Coach McAlister came up with this idea over the Winter Break while watching cooking shows on television with his wife. The goal of his project was to help the kids learn there are healthy and delicious alternatives for snacks instead of chips and soft drinks. 

Over the course of the day, Coach McAlister’s class became the talk of the school. Coach McAlister was very pleased with the effort and thought the students put into the project and has decided to make this contest a regular event each semester. 

"I thought this would be a great way to get kids to eat healthier snacks," said McAlister. "I envisioned the students would come up with creative ways of making snacks that all kids would be willing to eat."

McAlister also plans to put together a recipe book with the students' recipes.

Special thanks to Donna O’Brian (Principal), Pete Jenson (Assistant Principal), Brandee King (Assistant Principal), Karmen Waquespack ( Teacher), Doug Klaudt (Teacher), Ryan Bartoszek (Teacher/Coach), Jared Hall (Teacher/Coach), Dr. Fred Garza (MISD K-12 Health Coordinator), Denise Hayslip (District Dietitian/Nutrition Coordinator) for gladly volunteering to judge the students healthy snacks.

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See more photos from the Healthy Snack Project.