Snacks. Food-based Formation. Creativity. Allergies. Reducing Waste. Health, Whole Foods, and Simplicity. Copyright

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Kory Brown
6 years ago
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1 This guide provides snack ideas for each day. You are, of course, welcome to adapt, substitute, or supplement them. Food-based Formation We don t want to teach our kids in one room that we need to care for creation, and then cause problems for creation in the kitchen! The way you provide snacks is another opportunity for formation, and a way to witness to how we can make positive choices for the environment in everything we do. We invite you to take up Pope Francis challenge to care for our common home, and we ve tried to make it as easy as possible with our snack suggestions. Allergies Some of our snack suggestions include ingredients (such as peanuts) that could trigger allergic reactions in some children. If you have a susceptible child, you can eliminate that particular allergen or use one of the alternate ingredients that we suggest. It s best to ask parents to indicate on their registration forms if their child has food allergies, so you will have early notice. Health, Whole Foods, and Simplicity We have tried to emphasize simple, healthy, unprocessed whole foods for this week. In our experience, kids are being bombarded with processed foods that mimic the real thing. For example, artificially colored gummies in the shape of fruit (with the fiber removed and vitamins added back in), are not a particularly healthy choice. As adults, we sometimes forget that if we serve children whole, unadulterated foods, hungry children will happily eat them. If not tempted with sweetened yogurt in an individual disposable container, children will usually eat sliced fruit. If a package of high-salt-and-fat chips isn t provided, children will eat a wrap made with a healthy spread. Likewise, pediatricians and dentists suggest avoiding sugary drinks, including fruit juices. Serve chilled water instead. Creativity Of course, healthy and simple food doesn t have to be boring. A bit of effort or creativity in the presentation or naming goes a long way. Apple slices are more aestethically pleasing when presented as a fruit flower. And who can resist spider eggs with snake venom? We ve done our best to give you options that are relatively simple, healthy, and fun. Reducing Waste We encourage you to minimize paper and plastic packaging that just gets thrown away. Avoid individually packaged drinks. We encourage you to to ask children to bring a reusable water bottle with them each day (labelled with their name on it). Point out how much trash they are saving over the course of a week, simply from eliminating single-use cups or bottles. You could also consider gifting children with water bottles for the week. Use the snacks to re-inforce the lessons of the week. For example, point out that making one s own snack mix is better for the earth than individually-wrapped granola bars. See the make-your-own-trail-mix recipe for ideas. If you are feeding a horde of children this week, buying in bulk reduces the waste even more. Copyright Copyright 2016 The Pastoral Center. All rights reserved. PastoralCenter.com / CreationCareKids.com. EARTHKEEPERS VBS SNACKS 1

Composting Since the snacks presented here are mostly unprocessed whole foods, the food scraps can be composted residentially or commercially if your municipality has the capability.

2 Composting Since the snacks presented here are mostly unprocessed whole foods, the food scraps can be composted residentially or commercially if your municipality has the capability. If your locale doesn t provide pick-up for green waste, ask around to find someone in the parish who is willing to add the food scraps to their backyard compost or worm bin. If possible, have them bring photos so the kids can see where their scraps are going! Use the opportunity to explain to the kids how their food scraps will decompose and help new plants grow, rather than taking up space in a landfill. Seasonal Produce We encourage you to buy fruit and vegetables that are in season in your geographical location. If you buy a box of peaches that are locally grown and in season for your fruit flowers, you will drastically reduce the carbon footprint of your snacks, compared to buying fruit flown 4,000 miles. You can even point out to the children that being attentive to the seasons and their respective bounties helps us attend to, reverence, and be grateful for God s creation. Getting Help Preparing snacks is one part of the week that is very easy to delegate to others. Consider asking some parishioners if they would be willing to take on snack duty as a way of serving the parish. We ve found that sometimes retired folks love helping out. They may be excited to make creative snacks and want to go the extra mile! 2 EARTHKEEPERS VBS SNACKS

Spider Eggs (with Snake Venom) l Rice cakes l

Drizzle honey (venom) over some rice cakes

Don t do this too far in advance, or the rice

Planet Kabobs lmelons of different colors,

lmelon scoop lgrapes (optional) l Skewers 1.

3 Spider Eggs (with Snake Venom) l Rice cakes l Honey 1. Drizzle honey (venom) over some rice cakes (spider eggs). Don t do this too far in advance, or the rice cakes will become soggy and less appealing. Planet Kabobs lmelons of different colors, preferably in season. lmelon scoop lgrapes (optional) l Skewers 1. Scoop out round(ish) balls from the melons, about an inch in diameter. 2. Arrange them and grapes on skewers. They can be served fresh or frozen. EARTHKEEPERS VBS SNACKS 3

Watermelon-sicles lwatermelon lsturdy popsicle sticks l Freezer 1. The day or night before serving, cut watermelon into pie-shaped wedges.

They can be stacked with parchment paper in between. 3. Serve them as popsicles. 4.

given a second chance, what better choice is there than something made of figs?

l You may need to help the kids learn how to eat them, if they have never had figs before. You can eat the whole fig, including the skin!

4 Watermelon-sicles lwatermelon lsturdy popsicle sticks l Freezer 1. The day or night before serving, cut watermelon into pie-shaped wedges. Punch a popsicle stick an inch or two through the rind of each wedge. 2. Lay the popsicles out in a single layer to freeze the night before. They can be stacked with parchment paper in between. 3. Serve them as popsicles. 4. Have a plan for composting the watermelon rinds (and the wooden popsicle sticks) when the kids are Fig Since the Bible story for the day is about a fig tree that is given a second chance, what better choice is there than something made of figs? Here are couple different options, of varying levels of difficulty: Fresh Figs l Simply cut figs in half and serve them, perhaps with cheese and/or crackers. l You may need to help the kids learn how to eat them, if they have never had figs before. You can eat the whole fig, including the skin! Homemade Fig Bars l If you have a crack snack team looking for something more substantial to make, kids will love these. finished. Let them know where the waste is going and that it will decompose rather than filling up space in the trash and a landfill. l The fig bars you ll find in stores have a lot of sugar and other additives, but there are some healthy recipes online, such as: lhttp://bit.ly/1wxeno0 4 EARTHKEEPERS VBS SNACKS

Worms in the Bread This snack, tied closely to the Scripture story and songs for the day, will really get the kids excited.

The Bible says the manna bread was sweet, tasting like honey, so you may want to choose a honey-sweetened bread, cinnamon raisin English muffins, or honeywheat bagels.

Gummy worms. These can be bought in bulk, (see http://amzn.to/1pcdob5), and while they are not the healthiest option, they are easy, inexpensive, and look like worms. 2. Dried fruit.

5 Worms in the Bread This snack, tied closely to the Scripture story and songs for the day, will really get the kids excited. They will get to eat manna bread and the worms that showed up in it when the Israelites tried to store it up. l Bagels, English muffins or other bread. The Bible says the manna bread was sweet, tasting like honey, so you may want to choose a honey-sweetened bread, cinnamon raisin English muffins, or honeywheat bagels. l A spread, such as butter, cream cheese, peanut butter, or sunflower seed butter. l Worms. We give three options for these, which vary by healthiness, effort involved, and effectiveness. 1. Gummy worms. These can be bought in bulk, (see and while they are not the healthiest option, they are easy, inexpensive, and look like worms. 2. Dried fruit. Buy dried fruit that comes in large pieces (dried pears, peaches, apricots, etc.). Make-Your-Own Trail Mix This snack provides a chance to practice and reinforce the lesson of the day about using just what we need and not wasting food. Choose from the following: lnuts (peanuts, cashews, almonds, etc.) ldried fruit (raisins, dried cranberries, etc.) Cut them into narrow strips to look like worms. This is the healthiest option. 3. Jell-O. You can make impressive, realistic worms out of gelatin, using straws as molds. Find recipes at: Prepare the bread base. You may choose to toast and/or butter them, depending on what kind of bread you choose to use. 2. Poke holes in the bread and stuff the end of a worm into each hole. 3. Tell the kids to be sure to eat all of their worms! l Other snack items (pretzels, Cheerios, goldfish, pita chips, Chex cereal, etc.) l Perhaps even chocolate chips or M&Ms. 1. Set out a variety of ingredients for trail mix. Be mindful of peanut or nut allergies and ensure that there are plenty of other options for such children. 2. Give each child a bowl or container to make their own trail mix. Tell them this is an exercise in taking only what they need. Say they can come back for seconds if they d like, but that the point is not to take more than they can eat at one time. 3. Have children take home any left-overs. EARTHKEEPERS VBS SNACKS 5

Snack Wraps llavash bread or tortillas lcream cheese l Hummus l Fillings: Grated carrots, chopped cucumbers, halved cherry tomatoes, shredded cheese, chopped olives, etc. 1.

6 Snack Wraps llavash bread or tortillas lcream cheese l Hummus l Fillings: Grated carrots, chopped cucumbers, halved cherry tomatoes, shredded cheese, chopped olives, etc. 1. Spread half of the pieces of lavash/tortilla with cream cheese and spread the other pieces with hummus. 2. Spread any combination of the fillings in rows on top of the spread. 3. Roll up the lavash/tortilla tightly and cut into sections about the size of a piece of sushi. Let the children choose which type they would like to eat. Variations 1. If you have the time and the patience, have the children choose their own ingredients. An adult can spread the cream cheese or hummus and the children can add their own toppings and then roll them up. 2. Use rice cakes instead of bread. The children will then eat them as open-faced snacks. Baked Earthworms & Fruit The snack wraps above are quite substantial, but you can serve these items as side dishes. l Pretzel sticks lfruit, preferably local and in-season. 1. Simply serve these on the side. 2. Be sure to tell the children that the sticks are dried earthworms left over from yesterday s snack (we wouldn t want to waste anything!). 6 EARTHKEEPERS VBS SNACKS

Ants on a Log (in a Snowstorm) lcelery sticks l Peanut butter, almond butter, and/or sunflower seed butter (be aware of peanut allergies) lraisins or dried cranberries

l Fruit, preferably local and in-season. Apple, pear, peach, plums, or oranges work well for the petals.

For ants, place three to five raisins or dried cranberries (fire ants!) on top of the spread. 3. Sprinkle shredded coconut on top for the snow. 1.

7 Ants on a Log (in a Snowstorm) lcelery sticks l Peanut butter, almond butter, and/or sunflower seed butter (be aware of peanut allergies) lraisins or dried cranberries lshredded coconut 1. Spread peanut butter (or alternative) on celery sticks. Fruit Flowers This healthy snack reflects parts of God s original creation: fruit and flowers! l Fruit, preferably local and in-season. Apple, pear, peach, plums, or oranges work well for the petals. A slice of banana, kiwi, or a few berries or grapes work well as the center. Optional: lchunks of cheese. lpeanut butter, almond butter, or honey for dip. 2. For ants, place three to five raisins or dried cranberries (fire ants!) on top of the spread. 3. Sprinkle shredded coconut on top for the snow. 1. Arrange slices or sections of the fruit on plates in circles as if they are the petals of a flower. 2. Use another fruit, chunks of cheese, or some kind of dip as the center of the flower. 3. Make individual plates for each child, or larger plates that children can share. EARTHKEEPERS VBS SNACKS 7

Helping Kids Eat Healthy

Helping Kids Eat Healthy Empty Calorie Foods The food items listed below are high in fat and sugar with few nutrients. They are considered empty calorie foods and should only be eaten in small amounts. Provide a variety of foods