Need help

[countrygirl12]

I help with the 2-4 year old class at my church. We usually have a small snack. Yesterday we had a sugar cookie. Most times we have something more like a pack of Smarties or gummy bears.  My current issue is this - for the next few weeks we will have a kid in there that is not allowed to have food dyes.  Not sure if it is an allergy or if they just don't want her to have it. I know her brother can't have certain things.  Anyway, my question....

Do any of you have any ideas of something simple, not messy, easy, and cheap that we could do for a small snack? Something that would not have food dyes in it.  I want to be able to have something she can have.  I don't have much money so I can't afford something that costs very much at all.

Her mom said she can have a few Smarties every now and then. We may have to do like a half a pack of those. But the other kids would get upset so I need some ideas.  This next week we may have pretzel sticks.

[sfreeman8]

How about fruit or those fruit cups? String cheese and crackers? You might be able to talk to a store manager and get a "discount" since it's for a group of kids. Wouldn't hurt to try.

[linderlizzie]

I help with the 2-4 year old class at my church. We usually have a small snack. Yesterday we had a sugar cookie. Most times we have something more like a pack of Smarties or gummy bears.  My current issue is this - for the next few weeks we will have a kid in there that is not allowed to have food dyes.  Not sure if it is an allergy or if they just don't want her to have it. I know her brother can't have certain things.  Anyway, my question....

Do any of you have any ideas of something simple, not messy, easy, and cheap that we could do for a small snack? Something that would not have food dyes in it.  I want to be able to have something she can have.  I don't have much money so I can't afford something that costs very much at all.

Her mom said she can have a few Smarties every now and then. We may have to do like a half a pack of those. But the other kids would get upset so I need some ideas.  This next week we may have pretzel sticks.

Kids really like Goldfish crackers. That might be something you could try. There are also organic brands of Gummi Bears, lollipops and candy canes without dyes.

[UGetPaid]

Cheap and no food dye + fun for kids to eat = popcorn in my book. But with a 2-4 age range I imagine that could also be a choking hazard. (Although at that age pretty much anything food wise could have that potential). Unbuttered and unsalted microwave varieties (assuming you have access to a microwave oven) are still fun to eat with less mess.

[michele2042]

I like the popcorn idea.  If you have time kids always love popcorn *bleep*.  Maybe make some and put them on lollipop sticks.   

[sherryfan]

I know original popcorn, Sun chips, Ritz, Goldfish without any dye; but ask their parents just be sure if ok to eat or not

[bremer51]

You could make a snack mix with crackers, pretzels, and 1 or 2 candies.  There's fruit cups and pudding cups, too.

[countrygirl12]

How about fruit or those fruit cups? String cheese and crackers? You might be able to talk to a store manager and get a "discount" since it's for a group of kids. Wouldn't hurt to try.

Nah, it is my Sunday School class. We only have 3 - 4.  I had thought about fruit.  We do not need anything but something really small.  They use to do the gummy snacks. But the one kid shoves the whole pack in his mouth at once. THIS is why for a long time when I took over I quit letting them do snacks. smh.

[countrygirl12]

I help with the 2-4 year old class at my church. We usually have a small snack. Yesterday we had a sugar cookie. Most times we have something more like a pack of Smarties or gummy bears.  My current issue is this - for the next few weeks we will have a kid in there that is not allowed to have food dyes.  Not sure if it is an allergy or if they just don't want her to have it. I know her brother can't have certain things.  Anyway, my question....

Do any of you have any ideas of something simple, not messy, easy, and cheap that we could do for a small snack? Something that would not have food dyes in it.  I want to be able to have something she can have.  I don't have much money so I can't afford something that costs very much at all.

Her mom said she can have a few Smarties every now and then. We may have to do like a half a pack of those. But the other kids would get upset so I need some ideas.  This next week we may have pretzel sticks.

Kids really like Goldfish crackers. That might be something you could try. There are also organic brands of Gummi Bears, lollipops and candy canes without dyes.

Well, I thought about the goldfish crackers but then didn't know if they have the dyes in them. I could check out the package and see if it mentions it.

Cheap and no food dye + fun for kids to eat = popcorn in my book. But with a 2-4 age range I imagine that could also be a choking hazard. (Although at that age pretty much anything food wise could have that potential). Unbuttered and unsalted microwave varieties (assuming you have access to a microwave oven) are still fun to eat with less mess.

lol The first thing I thought when I saw popcorn was choking. No I do not have a microwave. But they do have already popped popcorn that is probably not going to have dye in it in bags. Maybe the carmel popcorn that has the prize in the box. Whatever that stuff is called.

I like the popcorn idea.  If you have time kids always love popcorn *bleep*.  Maybe make some and put them on lollipop sticks.   

I am dying to know what this crazy site "bleeped" out. Cause I know you didn't say anything bad there. lol

You could make a snack mix with crackers, pretzels, and 1 or 2 candies.  There's fruit cups and pudding cups, too.

Well you could but M&M and Reece's Pieces and the gummy snacks ALL have the stupid dyes or I assume they do. I know M&M candy does.  I may stick with Smarties because her mom said she can have a few of those every now and then.  I could do some pretzel sticks and 1/2 pack of Smarties.  I worry about the gummy snacks esp with a new kid I am not familiar with. 

The snack mix is something I had thought about.  We are going to have candy corn at some point in the near future. lol

Maybe cut a banana in slices and stick pretzel sticks in each slice?  Cut it so they are round pieces.

We don't have a lot of time.  The whole class is less than 40 minutes.  So we only spend about 5 minutes doing a snack.  And we don't have anything to drink because they usually spill it. SO we have to go to the water fountain.  The new girl will only be with us a few weeks.  Her family is a Missionary family from another country.  The church is hosting them while they are in the States.  And they will be visiting some other churches in the area while here as well.  The I can go back to whatever. lol.  The others have no restrictions.

[countrygirl12]

VANILLA WAFERS

I am doing a survey and saw that.  That could be something good. And different.  What do ya think. 

[aflyingmonkey]

My nephew is allergic to that blue dye in candy... it gives him symptoms like irritable bowel syndrome.

There are a couple of brands that sell those gummies with natural colors/flavorings, sometimes I see them at the 99cent only store.

He can eat those white oreo cookies... the vanilla ones.  I think the vanilla wafer idea you presented would be a good neutral choice for all the kids. 

[pstovall]

What about animal crackers.  I wouldn't think they would have dye, and the shapes would appeal to your age group. 

[bshee58]

Apple slices, orange slices, grapes, carrots with something to dip it in, you can also go to some food pantries to get help with food, some churches gives out food or food banks.

[countrygirl12]

My nephew is allergic to that blue dye in candy... it gives him symptoms like irritable bowel syndrome.

There are a couple of brands that sell those gummies with natural colors/flavorings, sometimes I see them at the 99cent only store.

He can eat those white oreo cookies... the vanilla ones.  I think the vanilla wafer idea you presented would be a good neutral choice for all the kids. 

I will look at the ingredients in the gummies. I really don't think it makes her sick as much as they just don't "do the dyes". But I would still respect that.

[countrygirl12]

Apple slices, orange slices, grapes, carrots with something to dip it in, you can also go to some food pantries to get help with food, some churches gives out food or food banks.

I can't do carrots. I said that as a joke and the one little boy looked like he was going to cry and said he hated carrots. lol. 

This is a SMALL SNACK for 3 - 4 kids.  I would never ask another church to donate to me to come up with a snack for the kids.  When I say small - usually we have a pack of Smarties each. Or gummy bears. Less than 5 minutes to eat it.  We probably took closer to 10 with the cookies this past week.  I don't have a lot of money right now and if I turned in the receipt to the church they would pay me back for what ever I purchase for the class. But I never turn anything in.