Frugal snacks for oodles of kids?

[PennyRoo]

Hey all . .

We often have many kids at our house, particularly during the summer months, playing for extended periods of time, and of course, eating. I'm interested in knowing your ideas for frugal snacking. We usually have a cut-up watermelon, make our own popsicles, and often pop popcorn.

What other cheap and easy (and relatively healthy) ideas do you have? I'm also looking for simplicity and don't want to be baking cookies in this heat.

TIA!

[sanguine_speed]

[bcblondie]

I'm stalking this thread too. Lots of unexpected things came up this month so we're tight!

[Usually Curious]

popcorn and water. if they want more they can go home at snack time.

[bcblondie]

Originally Posted by Usually Curious

popcorn and water. if they want more they can go home at snack time.

Haha. Love it. Or send your kids over there. That'll save tons.

[cristina47454]

My own three kids are eating me out of house and home this summer. Can't imagine what I'd do if I was responsible for feeding other people's kids too! Eek!

[EmsMom]

Hard boiled eggs? Carrot and celery sticks (stick some peanut butter in the celery, yum) Maybe peanuts in the shell - that might keep them busy for a while. How about rice krispie treats? I think I remember that they don't need to bake. I generally resort to popcorn, but don't forget you can flavor the popcorn as well for variety. If you make the snacks too good, they won't ever want to leave!!!

I am on an e-mail list and this recipe for microwave baked bread came through and the writer, whom I am inclined to trust, said it was pretty good. Have not tried it yet myself:

Bread For When It's just Too Hot to Bake

1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1 cup lukewarm milk
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
2 cup whole wheat flour
1 cups all-purpose flour
Cover a wooden cutting board or a flat, microwave-safe tray with parchment paper.
In a large bowl or bowl of mixer, dissolve yeast in water. Add milk, sugar, salt, soda and 1 cup whole wheat flour; beat well. Beat in the rest of the flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until a soft dough is formed. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead for about 5 minutes, or until smooth -- or, as I did, use the dough hook in a stand mixer for the whole operation. Place in a greased bowl -- I just use PAM -- and spray the top of the dough as well. Cover with a clean towel and let rise until double, about an hour, maybe a litle more. Punch down.

Form into four round loaves, and place on the parchment paper. Cover and let rise again for half an hour.

Microwave on high for 4 to 6 minutes, until top is no longer moist -- check it at 4 minutes, as a lot can happen in the course of a minute in a microwave. Let stand for 5 minutes in pan. Remove and cool on a rack. Yum.

[annettemarie]

Baby carrots are pretty inexpensive. My kids like them with ranch dressing "dip".

[meg-momto2]

i buy bulk 10lb bags of carrots and peel and cut as many as will fit in my giant tupperware(about half the bag). celery would be good but my kids don't like it.

apples sliced thin so it looks like there's more.

homemade popcorn

cheese crisp on cheap corn tortillas

home made popsicles

plain rice or corn chex mixed with the honey flavor for cracker like snacks(we're gluten free)

[Happiestever]

These are more hearty snacks but...

Make giant quesadillas with large tortillas and cheese. Cut into triangles. Yum.

Frozen grapes.

Banana walnut bread

If you know how to make Lumpia that is something that can be pretty cheap and you can freeze it.


Graham crackers

[Aeress]

Raisins, peanut butter and rice cakes

Bananas, sliced and added to homemade granola

Muffins

Bread with honey, sunflower seeds

Yogurt and fruit (we don't do organic yogurt but do buy the vanilla over plain)

[Chicky2]

Ha! I frequently (as in almost every day for several hours) have all our neighbor kids over. There are 4 of 'em, stair-stepped, plus my 3, plus 2 other friends little ones, plus 2 more kids from down the road, lol. They all LOVE to eat at our house. I'm that mom who feeds everyone.

I buy yogurt in big containers when I am not on a yogurt or kefir-making kick. I make home made granola to sprinkle on top.

Fresh veggies cut up. We have lots in our garden right now. They all love the cherry tomatoes, too.

Cut up fruit--our peach trees have gone nuts this year, plus our grapes. Otherwise, I have canteloupes and watermelons. I also frequently serve frozen berries (I get a really good co op deal for 14# boxes of them).

String cheese and crackers or popcorn.

muffins or cookies

peanuts or almonds in the shell (yes, keeps 'em busy!)

boiled or deviled eggs (we have lots of chickens)

pickled quail eggs

dill pickles or home made zucchini pickles

quesadillas using leftover bits of meat or beans and cheese

egg rolls (I'll have to check out the Lumpia wrappers-how are they different?) or spring rolls

home made bread and butter

home made popsicles (I have like 50 molds)

During the week, they are allowed 2 small, or one larger snack. Weekends, the limit is 2 snacks, unless I have prepared something special. After their limit, they must go home to eat! And I send all my kids over next door at least 3 times a week and tell them to eat there!

[kittywitty]

Nuts in the shell-takes them longer so they last forever.

[lilyka]

nut/sunflower seeds in the shell
carrots (get the whole ones, not the baby carrots. let the kids peel them themselves. I always serve these without dip. If they are actually hungry these will be good enough)
peanut butter and jelly sandwhiches. I usually make three sandwhiches for four kids. cut into triangles or squares.
bananas
banana bread (you can make it ahead and freeze it) or other quick bread or muffins
apple sauce
home made pudding (from a box....)
popcicles homemade or storebought are still pretty cheap or mr freezies (ok these are not healthy....)
apple slices (usually one apple is enough for two kids)
crackers
amimal cookies
celery sticks with pb
raisins
any sale fruit or veggie
cheese if it is on sale (ours goes down to $2 a pound and you can stock up.)
pretzels
you can roll all kinds of things into a tortilla and slice it into wheels.



the thing to remember about a snack is that it is a snack. not a meal. you don't need to offer a ton of food. about 100 calories. thats not much. be sure they are drinking plenty of water. t his will help fill them up and provide vital hydration.

[bcblondie]

Where the heck do you get cheese that cheap?! Mine is 9.50 for 900 grams!

[phathui5]

Usually I just feed the neighbor kids popsicles.

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by kittywitty

Nuts in the shell-takes them longer so they last forever.

Very clever!

Originally Posted by lilyka

the thing to remember about a snack is that it is a snack. not a meal. you don't need to offer a ton of food. about 100 calories. thats not much. be sure they are drinking plenty of water. t his will help fill them up and provide vital hydration.

I remind my kids that a snack is not a meal all the time.

[luv-my-boys]

I make what I call water spritzers. Its basically a big pitcher or water with a bunch of cut up fruit, any kind you have. I let it sit overnight in the fridge. Its pretty cheap since you dont have to add too much fruit plus its like that new flavored water they have out but dosent have all the perservatives and flavorings/colorings.

some of our family favorites:

cucumber/lemon/water
orange citrus water
stawberry/blueberry/blackberry

[A&A]

Originally Posted by kittywitty

Nuts in the shell-takes them longer so they last forever.

as long as no one is allergic!

[zebra15]

You feed the neighbor kids?? That really only happens around here if someone is running a daycare or the moms all take turns....

If someone is hungry they can run home, get a snack and come right back.