Safe Snacks for Daycare

I always took plain cookies or cupcakes with cans of frosting and sprinkles when my girls were in daycare. The kids loved being able to make and eat their own creations. If you call ahead to Jewel or Dominicks they can get you plain unfrosted sugar cookies or cupcakes. If you do this be sure to give the daycare provder a heads up so they can plan time for the fun!

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Hi A.,

I work at a preschool and we are only allowed to have snacks that are store bought. You also want to be aware of the rules regarding peanuts. We can't have M&M's for that reason.

For a mix, you could do pretzels, raisins, cheerios, marshmallows.

To be safe, ask the teacher or director if they recommend anything.

This went over really well at my sons 4th birthday party. Make rice krispy treats, but instead of making them square put them in icecream cones. Round them at the top and it looks like an icecream cone. Top with sprinkels and the kids will love them.

Some daycares will only allow HEALTHY snacks, and have an approved list to pick from. Some of these might include: Goldfish crackers, Cheese and cracker sticks, trail mix(no peanuts), which can all be placed in little "goodie bags".
Sliced apples with individual cups of carmel dipping sauce are also good. 100% fruit juice boxes are also a great addition to snack time.
Rice krispie treats and cupcakes are usually not on the healthy snack lists. Ask the director what they recommend. Popcorn is always a good treat.
Have fun.

Definitely ask the daycare if you can bring 'store bought' or 'homemade'. Usually places will have policies.

Also, ask the director what works well with the kids. They're probably seen a ton of 'celebration snacks' and know which ones are hits and which ones are misses.

I know you said you didn't want to do cupcakes, but the ice cream cone rice krispie treats reminded me of somthing i used to make...You fill ice cream cones (the cup kind, with the flat bottom) half way with cake batter and stand them on a cookie tray and bake according to cupcake directions...then frost and decorate...they're really cute...also there's the old standby pretzel rods dipped in chocolate/white chocolate and rolled in sprinkles...your daughter could even help with these if you wanted to...but i agree that you should check the policies at the daycare if you haven't already...the daycare I used to run only allowed storebought goodies because you could monitor the ingredients more closely to prevent allergy disasters! :) good luck and happy birthday to your little girl!

Candy corn are also great for this time of year for a mix. They are soft and stay away from the peanut issue. I know our schools would have to have packaged food but to get around it, bring in a big bowl and the bags of everything. Just let them mix it or you mix it there!

Talk to the teacher and make sure to find out first if their are any food allergies. Sometimes mixing too many foods for kids can be concerning, especially if an allergy is not known and a child ingests it in school.

If you get the green light for no food allergies - I don't know if your daughter has an October b-day but apples and caramel dip is so good. Also making "monster hands, using food-service clear plastic gloves, adding one piece of candy corn for finger nail and filling the rest with popped corn (mixed w/ m & m's in it would be a fun treat.) White chocolate ghosts are fun and easy too: Need, white chocolate, tiny chocolate morsels and small stick pretzels. Melt the white chocolate onto wax paper...pour a glob and shape like a ghost, add the pretzel, drizzle a little to look like he's riding the stick and add the morsels for eyes, pop in freezer just to set. Very cute. Also, Taste of Home Magazine just came out with their October issue. Very cool ideas.