Winning Over Snack Duty With This Easy Option
There are two words that make every mom cringe. No, it doesn’t involve the dreaded L-word. That’s a completely different issue. I’m talking about the one you can’t avoid. Well, you can, but it’s kind of frowned upon. If you’ve ever been in the predicament, you probably already know what I’m going to say. Better yet, if you read the title of the article, you should see it coming. Those words?
Snack Duty. Did I just hear a collective groan? I thought so.
When the girls were really little, it was kind of fun. Picking out various treats for their preschool classes. It was empowering for the girls to have foods they loved and were excited to share with friends during snack time. Parents were assigned to bring the food while the school provided the beverages. It was the first time I realized that all those snacks my mom prepared for various sporting events probably wasn’t because she loved to bake or cut up fruit. It was because she had an obligation simply by osmosis from our participation in whatever sport it was.
It has always been normal to send snacks to school for birthdays, but parents quickly learn it doesn’t stop there. As the girls got more involved in activities, we realized there’s always a request – or should I say ‘plea’ – for people to bring food to an event, school party, rehearsal, practice or celebration. Not just sports, either. EVERY activity. While I used to enjoy baking some type of sweet treat, the rules began to change because of allergies and homemade foods are no longer allowed. In one class, I was told I couldn’t even cut up fruit at home because I may not have cleaned the counter, cutlery or cutting board well enough after having peanut butter sandwiches. I understand and appreciate that a child’s health is more important, but the only thing I felt comfortable providing was a case of water.
But sometimes there are opportunities and I jump at the chance. This past weekend was Kennedy’s production of Mary Poppins Jr. and the cast wrap-up party was this past Monday. With a new idea in hand, I emailed to volunteer that I would provide a sweet snack that comes in its own package: Wonderful Halos.
The director only took a few minutes to reply to my email, “Thank you! The kids love those!” I was delighted to hear that. Upon arrival, we noticed there were plenty of options: pizza, chips, candy, cookies and so many other goodies. Kennedy was one of the first in line to fill up a plate. Halos, which are California mandarins, are one of her favorite snacks and she wanted to make sure she got one.
I watched as her friends grabbed some and joined her on the blanket where they would watch a replay of their performance. It warmed my heart to see these kids opting for healthy snacks – even when there were cookies and candy as options. I was sure the 5-lb case I brought would be enough to go around, but I was wrong. They disappeared in no time. Why? Because kids can make good decisions if it’s something they know tastes good!
It shouldn’t have surprised me though. Not only has Kennedy been ordering salads since she was about 3, but others in her group make thoughtful snack decisions also. I watched these same kids during cross country season as they encouraged each other to grab a piece of fruit to refuel after a meet. “Fruit is good for you” was something I heard one of Kennedy’s friends announcing.
Snacks are needed for all kinds of activities so try to think inside the box… the fruit crate to be exact. Pick up a box of Halos and watch them disappear. If you’ll be on snack duty in the coming weeks, enter to win a Wonderful Halos Snack Duty Kit using the form below!
I lean towards healthy fun snacks like celery with PB and raisins, or veggies & dip.
I like fresh fruit or veggies as a snack. Sometimes a cookie lol
I like to provide fruit or granola bars.
I try to make them healthy and fun using cheese, fruits, veggies.
APPLES
I always had fruit juices, rice krispie treats, raisins and orange segments — you don’t want sit down snack mini meals…I don’t know how that got started. You want a treat to keep their energy going that’s also pretty much on the healthy side without turning the kids off….always think – easy grab, no clean up.
Apples, oranges, pretzels, granola bars, anything nutritious and easy to eat on the go
Celeries and oranges are my favorite.
As a matter of fact, my favorite healthy snack is Halos! I just bought a bag yesterday, and I have a couple of them right here, peeled & ready to eat!!
Usually fruit like the halos, apple slices, grapes and watermelon when it is available.
I like to provide fresh fruit
Yogurt tubes. If you freeze them the night before they are kind of like a Popsicle which is very cool (pun intended) for hot days.
I’m not going to lie-homemade cookies!
snack duty means apples and grapes
Usually apple slices, orange slices and go-gurts.
fruits and veggies
“What types of foods do you usually provide on snack duty?” A mix of nutritious foods and foods with no nutritional value!
I try to make them healthy and fun using cheese, fruits, veggies.
Apples, Bananas, Halos are the fruits we usually have on hand for snacks.
Cookies and/or Muffins!
I usually have fruits and veggies on hand for snacking and often make hummus or bean dip. Cheese is another favorite.
granola bars are an easy one.
usually fresh fruit or veggies
I like to provide yogurt with granola.
NUTS
I usually like popcorn for snack
Salsa and chips, fruit or granola bars
Goldfish or fruit snacks
I love fruit and almonds
I’ve never actually been on snack duty yet – my oldest is only 5 and we haven’t participated in anything yet that’s required it. I would probably lean towards fruit, veggies, or homemade muffins though.
A meat and cheese tray, separate fruit and veggie trays, chips and dip, and sometimes I’ll even make some of my famous jalapeno poppers! (Of course, this is when I throw parties.)
Granola bars or cheese sticks are always great options.
raw nuts
Fruit, cheese and nuts
Apples, oranges, peanut butter, celery, cheese
Fresh fruit and snack mix
Fruit and veggies with dips. Cheese.
usually fruit bars or string cheese
Living in Florida my snacks is always some fresh fruit. Lately it has been strawberries or blackberries.
Cheese sticks are our go to snack!
I don’t have kiddos, so the only time I have snack duty anymore is for choir rehearsal. It actually is my night on March 20, and I plan to bring some kind of snack mix, as well as some fruit!
Fruit snacks are always our go to snack
I usually bring string cheese, cookies, or grapes.
We eat a lot of veggie trays and strawberries. We also love pretzels from stores and baked
Peanuts and sugar free gum.
I like to offer a healthy snack and tasty also. I usually send graham crackers and slices of cheese.
I like fresh fruit !
Cookies, fruit roll ups, fruit, or chex mix type things.
Carrot sticks or grapes are usually supplied on snack duty.
I always give them candy and snack cakes. I have a bad habit of giving my kids the things that I loved as a kid, which probably isn’t the best way to parent, but they don’t seem to mind!! My wife takes the opposite approach, with fruits and vegetables, so I think in the end it all balances out.
Usually fruit snacks, pretzels and peanuts
I like to have a variety. Cookies, cakes, fruit, HALOS for sure.
I send homemade blueberry mini muffins or oatmeal raisin cookies if I have the time to make them, or some string cheese or yogurt tubes and apple slices if I don’t have much time.
My kids all love fruits veggies and yogurt or cheese for snacks
What’s snack duty?!
Light duty fruit, big day bagels.
I like to provide crackers and cheese, apples, grapes and bananas.
We like to have fruits, nuts, and veggies as snacks!
String cheese and fruits
Fruit, crackers, cheese
Yogurt with fruit and granola
With six kids it’s hard to keep enough snacks in the home! I try to stay healthy with fruits and granola bars!
We have alot of fresh fruit & fresh veggies & cheese . We like apples, oranges, berries, watermelons , carrots, grapes.
I like to switch up snacks, and favorites are, apples with caramel dips, halo, other fruits, veggies with ranch dip, yogurt, meat and cheese sticks!
I like fresh fruit or veggies as a snack
Fresh fruit
Apples, mini bags of pretzels or raisins, juice boxes
Fresh fruit when I can.
I usually provide hard-boiled eggs, string cheese, and oranges when I’m on snack duty.
Cheese, grapes and other fruit for snacks.
We bring fruit like oranges.
fruit, string cheese & gogurt.
Mostly fruits like oranges and apples.
My kids love our homemade lara bars! They also love for me to core out an apple and stuff with almond butter!
snack duty we usually do fruit, granola bars, cheese sticks, sometimes yogurt, pretzels. Occasionally we sneak some oreos in there too:)
I usually provide cheese and crackers
I like to provide Skinny Pop Popcorn, fruit and string cheese.
Granola and carrot sticks 😀 but my kids are too young for me to have to worry about supplying a cast of hungry children!
I like to put out a veggie and fruit tray.
fruit -cheese
I provide veggies.
For healthy snack, I provide trail mix, fruit and string cheese.
The foods i you usually provide on snack duty is bananas, oranges, etc
carrot sticks and small fruit
carrot sticks, homemade cookies, and juice boxes
I try to provide what is wanted-cookies, cupcakes, nuts, etc.
I usually do some type of fruit or fruit yogurt cup because my daughter loves any kind of fruit.
I provide granola bars.
I like grapes and string cheese.
Thanks for the contest.
The snacks that I give out are apple slices, mandarin oranges, and granola bars.
A snack you can’t go wrong with