Reason 76: PB and Sometimes J

100 Reasons I'm Retiring.

Early on in my teaching career, I learned that a necessity for a high school teacher is a secret stash of snacks. I had a diabetic student my first year as a teacher and it was a quick lesson in keeping a few munchies on hand. Kids don’t always carry a packed lunch or have money. So each week two eight-packs of peanut butter crackers and a box of Uncrustables join my own groceries and travel to school. (For those of you living or working in a nut- free zone, I apologize. I used to also bring cheese and cracker packs and granola bars, but no one ate them.) 

The Food Benefits and Action Center cites the reasons that all students should have a school lunch:

School lunch is critical to student health and well-being, especially for low-income students—and ensures that students have nutrition they need throughout the day to learn.

I realize that they might not be the most nutritious choice to make, but they keep well in my desk drawer and help my students avoid headaches. I used to put all the snacks in a big basket, but they were always gone the first day. Now I hide them in a desk drawer, which rotates from week to week. The Unscrutables go in my mini-fridge, left by the last room’s tenant. I try to also keep a few bottles of water on hand. Kids are welcome to have a pack or a sandwich, but they need to ask. I’ve told my classes that the minute I have to pick up cellophane wrappers, I stop supplying snacks.

I’m sure there are a few kids who take advantage of my system, but in good conscience I can’t let a student go hungry.

Frankly, though, I’ll be happy to never see a pack of pb crackers again. Haven’t made up my mind about Uncrustables. They’re actually pretty good!

If you are or were a teacher, did you supply snacks? What sorts of food items do you keep in your desk drawer to help yourself or someone else get through the day?