Healthy Bake Sales Options for Fundraising

Trying to figure out healthy recipes for the bake sale can be challenging. Bake sales have traditionally been filled with high calorie, high fat and high sugar cakes, cookies, pies and other goodies.

Some parents, myself included, are looking for alternatives to the traditional bake sale.

Since I have been teaching nutrition for nearly seven years now, I believe we need to be reinforcing classroom nutrition teaching by including more healthy choices in fundraising activities otherwise the students get a mixed message.

This lens includes from cooking with healthier recipes, hosting a No Bake or No Calorie cupcake sales (see later in page) and even looking for alternative fundrasing options to the bake sale. Also included are some links to the Sneaky Chef. If Missy Chase Lapine, has her way, her "Save the Cupcake" will teach parents how to use healthier recipes for the traditional bake sale.

Image of Fruit Flan by Justyna Furmanczyk.

The Traditional Bake Sale - Tannazie. Cakes. Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved.

Just the mention of another Bake Sale or another classroom party strikes fear in the heart of this health-promoting, nutrition-teaching mom.

As a parent I want to make sure that my children to grow up and be healthy and happy. I am teaching my daughters to make healthy eating choices and to be physically active each day.

As a nutrition teacher I believe we need to be reinforcing classroom nutrition teaching by including more healthy choices in fundraisers and fundraising activities otherwise the students get a mixed message.

Having children and adults sell junk food and high-calorie, high-fat, sugar-ladened treats for fundraisers undermines teaching children about eating healthy food.

If schools are holding Bake Sales, let's make sure that the recipes being used are healthy ones. It is also time for parents and schools just do some thinking outside of the box to discover new ways of fundraising.

These bite-sized cookies burst with flavor that belies their low calorie and fat count. These cookies will satisfy even the most sophisticated taste buds.

Lining trays with parchment paper prevents food from sticking. Parchment is available in most supermarkets or cooking stores and is a baker's best friend. (Makes about 60 cookies)

Prep time: 15 minutes or less

Total time: 45 minutes or less

Ingredients:

* 3 egg whites

* 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

* 2/3 cup granulated sugar

* 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted

* 1/4 teaspoon mint extract

* 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips or finely chopped bittersweet chocolate

Directions:

* Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, securing the edges with tape.

* With an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Add cocoa powder and beat until the mixture becomes glossy. Add mint extract. Gently fold in chips.

* Place mixture in a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2- or 3/4-inch tip. Pipe 1-inch rounds onto the parchment, leaving 1 to 2 inches between cookies. With damp fingertips, press down any peaks. If a pastry bag isn't available, spoon mixture into a zip-top bag and snip a 1/2-inch hole in the bottom corner of the bag. Batter can also be dropped with a tablespoon onto the parchment.

* Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, rotating pans halfway through baking. Place baking sheets on a cooling rack for 10 minutes before peeling cookies off the parchment.

Each serving provides:

Calories: 15

Calories from Fat: 0

Total Fat: 0.0 g

Saturated Fat: 0.2 g

Trans Fat: 0.0 g

Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.0 g

Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg

Sodium: 0 mg

Total Carbohydrate: 3 g

Dietary Fiber: 0 g

Sugars: 3 g

Protein: 0 g

This recipe is from the new The Great American Eat Right Cookbook, available for ordering at the link at right.

Apple Coffee Cake

Apples and raisins provide the moistness, which means less oil can be used in this low saturated fat, low cholesterol, and low sodium coffee cake.

Ingredients

5 C tart apples, cored, peeled, chopped

1 C sugar

1 C dark raisins

1/2 C pecans, chopped

1/4 C vegetable oil

2 tsp vanilla

1 egg, beaten

2-1/2 C sifted all-purpose flour

1-1/2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.

2. Lightly oil a 13x9x2-inch pan.

3. In a large mixing bowl, combine apples with sugar, raisins, and pecans; mix well. Let stand 30 minutes.

4. Stir in oil, vanilla, and egg. Sift together flour, soda, and cinnamon; stir into apple mixture about 1/3 at a time just enough to moisten dry ingredients.

5. Turn batter into pan. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Cool cake slightly before serving.

Yield: 20 servings--Serving Size: 3-1/2-inch x 2-1/2-inch piece

Each serving provides:

Calories: 188

Total fat: 5 g

Saturated fat: less than 1 g

Cholesterol: 11 mg

Sodium: 68 mg

Source: Apple Coffee Cake. Stay Young at Heart. NIH. National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute.

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies

Nothing is more delicious than a warm, chewy chocolate chip cookie. Using whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose makes this a contender for the best-tasting cookie ever!

Prep Time:30 min

Start to Finish:40 min

Makes:3 dozen cookies

Ingredients:

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

2 cups Gold Medal® whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 package (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 375ºF.

2. Mix sugars, butter, vanilla and egg in large bowl. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt (dough will be stiff). Stir in chocolate chips. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light brown (centers will be soft). Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet. Cool on wire rack.

Each serving provides:

Calories 150 (Calories from Fat 70 )

Total Fat 8 g (Saturated Fat 5 g)

Cholesterol 20 mg

Sodium 110 mg

Total Carbohydrate 19 g

Dietary Fiber 1 g

Protein 2 g

Exchanges: 1 Starch; 1 1/2 Fat

Source: Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies. BettyCrocker.com

Winter Crisp

Only 1 tablespoon of margarine is used to make the crumb topping of this tart and tangy fruit dessert that is cholesterol free and low sodium.

Filling:

1/2 C sugar

3 Tbsp all-purpose flour

1 tsp lemon peel, grated

3/4 tsp lemon juice

5 C apples, unpeeled, sliced

1 C cranberries

Topping:

2/3 C rolled oats

1/3 C brown sugar, packed

1/4 C whole wheat flour

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 Tbsp soft margarine, melted

1. To prepare filling, in a medium bowl combine sugar, flour, and lemon peel; mix well. Add lemon juice, apples, and cranberries; stir to mix. Spoon into a 6-cup baking dish.

2. To prepare topping, in a small bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Add melted margarine; stir to mix.

3. Sprinkle topping over filling. Bake in a 375º F oven for approximately 40-50 minutes or until filling is bubbly and top is brown. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Variation:

Summer Crisp

Prepare as directed, substituting 4 cups fresh or unsweetened frozen (thawed) peaches and 3 cups fresh or unsweetened frozen (unthawed) blueberries for apples and cranberries. If frozen, thaw peaches completely (do not drain). Do not thaw blueberries before mixing or they will be crushed.

Yield: 6 servings--Serving Size: 1-3/4-inch by 2-inch piece

Each serving provides:

Calories: 284

Total fat: 6 g

Saturated fat: 1 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg

Sodium: 56 mg

Source: Winter or Summer Crisp. Stay Young at Heart. NIH. National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute.

Creamy Chocolate Cheesecake With Sliced Strawberries

A Cheesecake recipes that won't blow your diet.

Ingredients:

* 1 cup nonfat plain yogurt

* 4 ounces low-fat cream cheese

* 1/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese

* 1/4 cup maple syrup

* 3 tablespoons cocoa powder

* 2 large egg whites

* 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

* 1 teaspoon Kahlua

* 1/2 pint strawberries

* Nonfat cooking spray

Directions

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Coat an 8 x 8-inch pan with nonfat cooking spray. Puree in blender the yogurt, cream cheese, ricotta cheese, maple syrup, cocoa, egg whites, cinnamon, and Kahlua. Pour in pan.

Bake cake for 50 minutes or until done. Let cool and decorate with slices of strawberries.

Makes eight slices.

Each serving provides:

Calories: Approx 98 calories per serving

Fat: 4 g

This recipe and many more come from the ACS book, Celebrate! Healthy Entertaining for Any Occasion available below.

Source: Creamy Chocolate Cheesecake With Sliced Strawberries. Celebrate! Healthy Entertaining for Any Occasion.

Marlene Sorosky author "Fast & Fresh Festive Meals for the Holidays" offers tips and recipes for ways of reducing the fat and cholesterol without sacrificing flavor.

Includes recipes for:

• Peaches Poached in Spiced Prosecco
• Nectarine & Boysenberry Pie with Brown Butter Crust
• Apricot & Cherry Crisp
• Honeydew Melon Sorbet with a Hint of Mint
• Forgotten Meringue Torte
• Fat-Free Fudge Sauce
• Chocolate Berry Shortcakes
• Whipped Sweet & Sour Cream

Healthy Recipes Kids Love is a 100-page magazine cookbook designed to help families eat more healthfully. From selecting recipes that sound and look good to shopping together for the ingredients and cooking together, families can make eating at home easy and rewarding.

Due to popular demand, they have also publish a 36-page special edition of Healthy Recipes Kids Love magazine cookbook. The cookbook includes many of the delicious recipes and beautiful photographs that were published in the original magazine.

These American Heart Association recipes make cooking and eating at home fun and easy for the whole family!

Quick Fix for Store-Bought Brownie Mix

If you don't have time for the scratch version, this doctored-up packaged brownie mix fits some great nutrients in. Simply replace half of the oil and all the water with nutrient-rich Purple Puree and replace some of the dry mix with wheat germ. No one I've asked, kids or adults, could tell the difference between these and the regular version.

1/2 cup wheat germ, unsweetened

1 box (about 21 ounces) brownie mix (preferably without hydrogenated oils)

2 large eggs

3/4 cup Purple Puree (see Make-Ahead Recipe #1 below)

1/4 cup canola oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter or coat with cooking spray a 13-by- 9-inch or 8-inch square baking pan.

Measure and discard (or save for future use) 1/2 cup of the dry packaged brownie mix and replace with 1/2 cup of wheat germ. Mix together with the eggs, oil, and Purple Puree until well blended. Follow package directions for baking time, depending on size of baking dish used.

Sneaky Chef Make-Ahead Recipe #1: Purple Puree

3 cups raw baby spinach leaves (or 1 cup frozen chopped spinach, or frozen chopped collard greens)

1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (no syrup or sugar added)

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

1/2 tablespoons water

If using raw spinach, thoroughly wash it, even if the package says "prewashed." Bring spinach or collards and water to boil in a medium pot. Turn heat to low and allow to simmer for 10 minutes. If using frozen blueberries, quickly rinse them under cold water to thaw a little, and then drain.

Fill the bowl of your food processor with the blueberries and cooked spinach, (or collards) along with the lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of water, and puree on high until as smooth as possible. Stop occasionally to push top contents to bottom. If necessary, use a second tablespoon of water to make a fairly smooth puree.

This amount of spinach and blueberries makes only about 1 cup of puree. Double the recipe if you want to store another cup of the puree. It will store in the refrigerator up to 2 days, or you can freeze 1/4 cup portions in sealed plastic bags or small plastic containers.

This recipe is from The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals available on Amazon.

The Sneak Chef has come up with recipes that not only facilitate good nutrition, but support the District's wellness initiative.

She launched the 'Save the Cupcake' campaign at an elementary school in her own school District.

Prior to the bake sale a Sneaky Chef cooking class was offered for parents so they could learn how to make her signature healthy purees, which add nutrients to cupcakes.

The bake sale is part of Lapine's larger mission to offer an innovative solution to childhood nutrition.

Splenda Yellow Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting

Makes 12 cupcakes

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Bake time: 15 minutes

1 1/2 cups cake flour

1/2 cup SPLENDA Sugar Blend for Baking

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened

2/3 cup lowfat buttermilk

2 egg yolks

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Place 12 paper baking cups into muffin pans. Set aside.

COMBINE flour, SPLENDA Sugar Blend for Baking, baking powder, and baking soda; add butter to flour mixture. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until mixture is crumbly.

COMBINE buttermilk, egg yolks, and vanilla; add to flour mixture and beat at low speed until blended. Spoon batter into prepared pan.

BAKE 15 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center of cupcakes comes out clean. Once cool, frost as desired.

Each serving provides:

Calories: 230

Calories from Fat: 90

Total fat: 11 g

Saturated fat: 6 g

Cholesterol: 55 mg

Sodium: 95 mg

Sugars: 19 g

Protein: 4 g

Chocolate Frosting

Makes Frosting for 12 Cupcakes

Preparation time: 15 minutes

1/2 cup SPLENDA Sugar Blend

1 tablespoon light corn syrup

1/3 cup 2% low-fat milk

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

COOK SPLENDA Sugar Blend for Baking, corn syrup, milk, and chocolate in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until candy thermometer reaches 232 degrees F, 6 minutes. Remove from heat and add butter; do not stir. Set aside to cool to room temperature, about 1 hour.

TRANSFER mixture to a medium mixing bowl; add vanilla and beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until frosting is of spreading consistency, 5 minutes. Spread quickly onto cupcakes using a spoon.

Each serving provides:

Serving Size: 2 tablespoons

Calories: 80

Calories from fat: 40

Total Fat: 4.5 g

Saturated Fat: 3 g

Cholesterol: 5 mg

Sodium: 5 mg

Dietary Fiber: 1 g

Sugars 10 g

Source: Yellow Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting. Splenda Bake Sale Website.

A collection of other websites with more healthy recipes that can be used at your next bake sale.

If the school has rules about serving only healthy foods, cook baked goods and bake sale items with healthy recipes.

Host a No-Bake Bake Sale

How do you host a no-bake bake sale? By turning it into a donation fundraiser.

Traditionally bake sales can profitable, but they also require a lot of work. For parents and schools who want to promote healthy choices, selling a variety of high calorie, high fat baked goods may not be the best option.

To host a no-bake bake sale, you send home notices to parents or adult group members that they are invited to NOT spend all day cooking, and NOT spend an afternoon at a bake sale table, and NOT feel obligated to buy someone else's culinary efforts.

Instead you encourage parents to simply contribute $10 (or $15, or $20 depending on your fundraising goal) to the No-Bake Bake Sale.

The organization wins by collecting donations. The parents win by not spending a lot of time baking cakes, pies and cookies to sell to people who probably don't need to eat the extra calories.

Image: Modified Microsoft Image.

Source: Ideas for Healthy Fundraisers. Fundraising.com

Have a No Calorie Cupcake Sale

How is it possible to host a no calorie cupcake sale? When the cupcakes are crochet or knitted from yarn.

Crochet and Knit Cupcakes are a fun, simple, no calorie, healthy and guilt-free cupcake option to the normal cupcake. These healthy choice cupcakes have no fats, no sugar and no cholesterol.

You could even host a Crochet-a-Cupcake-athon or a Knit-a-Cupcake-athon and have people learn how to crochet or knit with these fun patterns.

Image Source: Lion Brand. Free Knit & Crochet Pattern. Amigurumi Hi-life Cupcake.

The Healthy Schools Campaign held a webinar in November 2014 entitled "Beyond the Bake Sale: Effective and Healthy Fundraising Strategies."

At the archived webinar below you can learn about healthy food fundraisers to dance-a-thons to 5K races. Learn from school principals who have moved beyond the bake sale to create fun, engaging, health-promoting ways to raise money for their schools.

Some people and organizations like the Center for Science in the Public Interest believe that it is time to Junk the Junkfood fundraisers.

CSPI nutrition policy director Margo G. Wootan offers these words on Junkfood Fundraisers.

• "Health-conscious parents have a hard enough time without schools pressuring their children to buy even more junk food to help pay for their own education," said CSPI nutrition policy director Margo G. Wootan. "Why put parents in that position when there are perfectly good fundraisers that don't jeopardize children's health?"
• "It is time to junk the junk food fundraisers," said Wootan. "As a society we are sure to spend more on the resulting diet-related diseases than we could ever hope to raise selling junk food in schools."

Action for Healthy Kids recommends the following healthier foods as fundraising options.

1. Fresh Fruit
2. Fruit Baskets
3. Cheese Baskets
4. Popcorn & Nuts
5. Low-fat Cereal Bars
6. Trail Mixes
7. Gourmet Food Baskets

Some healthier fundraising programs available to schools and recommended by the Center for Science in the Public Interest include:

1. Physical activity fundraisers.

   Walk-a-thons, 5Ks, 10Ks, bowl-a-thons, and other sports-related fundraisers promote physical activity for students and can be lucrative for schools.

2. Book fairs.

   The publishing company Scholastic sponsors more than 100,000 book fairs per year, which promote literacy as well as raise funds.

3. Scrip and grocery store fundraisers.

   Scrip is a gift card for use at local retail stores, which schools purchase at a discount. Many grocery chains have programs that disburse a percentage of shopper's purchases to a school they designate.

4. Recycling fundraisers.

   Used cell phones, empty printer cartridges, and even re-usable clothing can all be collected by schools in exchange for cash. Millions of printer cartridges are thrown away each year, yet schools can earn between $.06 and $2.20 per cartridge, depending on the model.

5. Healthy food sales.

   Fruit, bottled water, spices, or granola bars can be sold instead of junk foods.

Source: CSPI. February 2007. Sweet Deals: School Fundraising Can Be Healthy and Profitable, Says CSPI. Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Action for Healthy Kids recommends the following alternatives to selling foods as fundraising options.

• Greeting Cards
• Valentines
• Telegrams
• Candles
• Stationary
• Gift wrap, ribbons
• Baskets
• Lotions, soaps
• Picture frames
• Magazine subscriptions
• Holiday wreaths
• Ornaments
• Flowers, plants, bulbs
• Coupon books
• Balloons
• Calendars
• Jewelry
• CDs, DVDs and music downloads
• Services e.g. lawn care, salon, spa, housecleaning

There are a whole variety of different physical activity fundraisers that can be hosted.

Sports-related fundraisers help promote physical activity for students and can be lucrative fundraisers for schools.

• Walk-a-thons
• Runs - 5Ks, 10Ks,
• Fun Runs
• Dance-a-thon
• Bowl-a-thon
• Jump rope-a-thon
• Golf tournaments

There are also many organizations (like the American Heart Association) that sponsor physical activity fundraisers that the schools can work with to help host a fundraiser.

Jenn isn't the only one wondering if there aren't greener fundraising ideas that can help raise funds without adding to the trash on the planet.

Some of Green Fundraising Ideas include:

1. Selling Green Stuff

• Several examples of Green Products (Smencils and a variety of Reusable Shopping Bags are listed below).

2. Recycling Fundraisers

• Used cell phones, empty printer cartridges, cans, bags and re-usable clothing can all be collected by schools in exchange for cash.

3. Buying Green Online

• Different organizations are making it easy for schools and other non-profits to host fundraisers, by giving them the option of hosting Virtual or online fundraisers.

4. Adopt-a-Tree

• An Adopt-a-Tree fundraiser is a great way to raise funds, teach children about the role trees play in our everyday lives, and do something meaningful for the environment.

5. Community Cleanup

• Raise funds by choosing a public area in need of a good cleanup, and get members of the community to sponsor your group.

6. Green-a-thon

• Raise funds and exercise with a Green-a-thon such s a walk-a-thon or fun run. Pledgers can donate cash for every lap walked or run.

There are many different organizations and companies that are offering fundraisers to sell reusable shopping bags.

Share your thoughts in the comment section below: