~ Snack Ideas for Preschool ~

Found this on accident when I forgot to buy anything for my daughters girl scount troop meeting. I just popped a few bags of popcorn, sliced some chunk/block cheese and some apples. They thought it was awesome. Brought napkins and every kid got a handful of popcorn and a couple slices of cheese and apple.

Hi N.,
I know everyone say healthy snacks are the thing to do. But what happens if half or more don't eat it. Get something your child likes. Make them the happy child. i fully for kids eating healthy...but how far can one take it.

In the preschool that my daughter attends we are not allowed to bring in anything homemade...it has to be prepackaged...I guess it is a State thing...

Anyway, here is acouple I've brought or seen others bring

Graham crakers & Applesauce

Juice boxes or just a reg jug of juice, our school provides cups

Yogurt or Gogurt

Pretzel & cheese packs - these were a HUGE hit!

Hope that helps...if I think of any others I'll add them later

M.

Do they have to be healthy? I made scary eyeballs for Halloween, S'mores (in a pan), Beach cake in a sand bucket...
Try www.familyfun.com. They have some great ideas if you have the time to try them all. How about pretzel rods dipped in chocolate with sprinkles..Ok better stop now so you can get cooking :)
Hope that helps
L.
Here are the links for the eyeballs & smores

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_entertaining_parties/article/...

http://www.cooksrecipes.com/bar/indoor_smores_recipe.html

Somethings that were big Hits when my oldest son was in preschool

Mini Bagels with Cream Cheese

Cut up fruit with dip of some kind

Mini Sandwiches (use a cookie cutter to make fun shapes)

Popcorn

Trailmix (just double check allergies!)

Frosting or flavored cream cheese sandwiched between two graham crackers are pretty big hit.

Our girls also like different berries,string cheese or rice krispie treats.

Choc. strawberries are always yummy but VERY messy (my 3 year old eats all of the chocolate off and leaves the berry) and apple slices even better. Easy to make but again sort of messy.

Hi,

Try http://www.kraftfoods.com/main.aspx?s=recipe&m=recipe... , they have tons of yummy and easy snack ideas, along w/ great recipes for dinners!

Make your own granola bars - they are easy to make & you control the sugar & other ing.(you don't have to include nuts in them for those who may have allergies), make your own chex mix, and make mini chocolate chip muffins (you can put some oat bran in them & they'd never know the diff.) The Internet has lots of recipes of the above mentioned.

Our schools always require prepackaged foods and healthy ones. If you bring in an unhealthy snack, they send it home. Whenever it is our turn, my kids always pick Chex mix and it is always a hit. The kids with peanut or treenut allergies were able to eat it as well.

N.,
When my son was in preschool we did the same thing. One of the hits was cute up celery, cherry tomatoes and baby carrots. I filled the 2oz cups with ranch dressing and peanut butter. The kids actually thought it was great fun to dip their snacks. It was a little more work than just getting prepackaged snacks but they really loved it. Another thought is cut up oranges and put them in baggies for each kid. They really do like the fresh stuff.

Hi N.~
It's probably boring but I always bring rice krispy treats. They have less sugar than most fruit snacks/granola bars and prepackaged stuff, they are totally easy to make, and I don't have to worry about other kids' allergies since there are only 3 ingredients. Then I put sprinkles or some seasonal decorations on the top just so they aren't so 'everyday'. The kids think they are really getting something yummy b/c of the sweetness.
~L.

At my daughter's preschool, the teachers would distribute a monthly calendar with each day's theme included. So, when it was my turn to bring the snack, I would consult the calendar to see what my daughter would be talking about that day. For example, on the day they talked about turtles, I made my own turtles - I took bread and cut it into circles with a biscuit cutter, spread the circle with whipped cream cheese, and then put a slice of kiwi in the middle for the shell, and used small pretzel sticks for the legs. A round pretzel served as the head with the bread being like a lily pad. Yes, it's a lot of work, but the internet is full of ideas like this - I could never have come up with this one on my own! Good luck! Also, just be aware of allergies and choking hazards!

I know this isn't very "fancy" but my triplets who are 5 LOVE cheese and crackers. Just a slice of american cheese (ones in the papers) divided in 4 and put on salteen crackers. Of course that is something that daddy eats. lol

M.

I always try to keep it healthy. Kids love to dip. How about fruit and cream cheese dip or veggies and dip? Also, consider asking your child and letting them help. My son LOVES grapes and always wants to bring them or if we bring cupcakes or something for a b-day he helps make them and picks out the liners. Putting cool-whip instead of froting on cupcakes helps cut out some sugar.

you could always do boring cheese crackers or the ones filled with peanutbutter also ther are animal crackers and gold fish

N.,
I was a preschool teacher before I had my son. The BEST snack that ever came in was crackes, cheese and deli meat (salami slices, ham slices, turkey slices, etc.)! The first time it came in I thought it was kind of a strange thing to send in, but the kids LOVED it! They thought it was so fun to make little cracker sandwiches. It was also a wonderful snack because the children didn't burst into a sugar high. Also, when sending in snacks, PLEASE check labels for peanut allergy information. This can really be a problem for some children! Hope this helps!

Mini muffins are also a big hit...our kids love chocolate chip, apple cinnamon, cinnamon bannana and blueberry...there are lots of other choices out there too. They feel like they are getting a treat but it is healthy at the same time. And by making or purchasing mini muffins they are just the right size for the kids....and there is very little waste!!!!

I have been taking them to the kids classes since they started school and they are a great big hit!!!!

Good luck with snack...I know how frustrating it can be as we do snacks for school and girl scouts....

Ants on a log - celery sticks w/PB and raisins. My son thinks this is the coolest thing & its the only way I can get him to eat celery!! : ) He's always telling his friends about his "ants on a log"! Its a nice healthy snack.