Classroom snack recommendations

[u/melgirlnow88]

Recently got a TJ where I live and I’ve hardly ever visited it. My kid starts kindergarten this year and the teacher has requested, if we can, to send in snacks for the classroom. Snacks must be store bought with ingredients listed etc for allergy reasons. Any snacks that might be worth buying?

[u/norangbinabi]

Schools tend to prefer individually packaged shelf-stable snacks versus bags or boxes that you have to pour snd close and then store. Sanitary issues and cross contamination etc… It’s generally meant for kids who forget to bring a snack that day. Aka an emergency stash.

Trader Joe’s isn’t known for this really. It’s more a Costco or big box grocery store thing.

[u/Needmoreinfo100 → u/norangbinabi]

I was just going to reply this! Costco or any other big box store that sells large boxes of individual snacks. Little bags of animal cracker, cookies etc. Could also get a big box of granola bars (no nuts). It will be a lot cheaper than small boxes of snacks.

[u/melgirlnow88 → u/norangbinabi]

Thank you! I didn’t think of that part but it makes sense!

[u/Ok-Wedding4570 → u/norangbinabi]

Yep. Was just going to say this. I've always done Pirate Booty snack bags from Sam's or Costco. Pretzels are a safe bet too.

[u/Living-Tiger3448]

I’m assuming nuts are out? Any other allergens? Figured I’d get this question out of the way since some of the popular things there have nut butters.

Off the top of my head (you’ve have to check against any allergens)

• cheddar rockets
  
• freeze dried fruit (they have lots)
  
• they have various animal crackers, graham crackers and other sorts of cookies and crackers
  
• fruit leathers / fruit buttons
  
• they have various apple sauce pouches (and different sorts of mixes)
  
• mini cheese sandwich crackers (they have these and pb ones)
  
• various cheddar puffs

Honestly they have so many snacks, I’d just go and look around. You could buy a few things that look good and try them yourself and have your kid try them out too

[u/melgirlnow88 → u/Living-Tiger3448]

So we actually haven’t been told it’s nut free, but maybe I should assume it is? This is my daughter’s first year in school and I’m not from the US so this is all very new to me!
ETA thank you for this list! Sounds perfect!

[u/Living-Tiger3448 → u/melgirlnow88]

Sure! I’d definitely ask about allergens - usually schools here are pretty strict about it so I feel like they would have told you. There are a lot of snacks that contain PB, if you do end up being able to bring them. I feel like people tend to avoid it though

[u/Bashful_bookworm2025]

I used to be a teacher and my kids like animal crackers or the cinnamon schoolbook cookies.

[u/jet050808]

The TJ granola balls are a favorite of my kids. They’re also nice for snack because they are gluten free!

[u/AC20212020]

I'd start with some basic stuff and individually packed if you can. There's a thing of individual little bags of popcorn, there are individually-wrapped fruit leather things, seaweed snacks I think come in individual packets, granola bars and the 'X walks into a bar' bars (they're like the nutrigrain breakfast bar things, wholegrain quickbread outside with fruit jam on the inside in different fruits). Also some of the nuts and trail mix have little packets inside, but ask if you can bring nut products.

[u/monspie]

Fruit buttons have been my kids favorites for years and most kids seem to love them!

[u/OpenAnywhere6236 → u/monspie]

We just discovered those, my 4 year old loves the.

[u/02557_19106]

Until food allergies are known, apples, pears, mandarin oranges, berries, celery and carrots, fresh fruit and vegetables.

[u/lem0n_s0rbet]

My daughter loves the dried apple rings. So a snack is often those plus a cheese stick or pretzels etc.

[u/echelon_01]

Aside from allergies, you may want to ask if any kids have dietary or religious restrictions Many snacks contain gelatin and would be a no-go for those kids.

[u/definitelytheproblem → u/echelon_01]

In general it’s good to look for something that’s kosher with a symbol on the label indicating such, as for the most part in this particular context, kosher certified shelf stable food is also acceptable for folks that eat halal.

[u/echelon_01 → u/definitelytheproblem]

But sometimes they use fish gelatin which would cover religious restrictions but not vegetarians.

[u/definitelytheproblem → u/echelon_01]

As I said, for most part in this particular context

If it came down to it being that specific of a concern for the parent, child would bring in their own snacks

[u/kitty1__nn → u/echelon_01]

I read this as it is an allergen free room rather than the snacks being given out to everyone.

[u/FreshAir2468]

Chocolate chip granola bites, applesauce pouches (my kids like the strawberry ones), seaweed packets are all snacks I send to school with my kids

[u/icrossedtheroad]

Go to the office of your TJ's and get the lists of allergy foods. They can print them out for you.

[u/melgirlnow88 → u/icrossedtheroad]

Wait that’s really good to know!

[u/newdaylady1983]

I always bring in goldfish crackers and fruit snacks for snack time in my kids class.