"Memorable Munchables"--more ideas for snacks

Materials: Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple Jell-O gelatin; clear plastic cups; plastic spoons; mixing bowl; boiling water; cool water; cookie cutters; and a mixing spoon.

Ingredients: Jelly beans or colored cereal and small paper cups.

Play this color-matching game with younger children. Give each child an equal portion of jelly beans or colored cereal in paper cups. Choose an event from the Bible to read to your class. Then ask children questions related to the reading, such as, “What color is God’s shining sun?” “What color is the grass God grows?” “How many people are in the family God gave you?” “How many eyes do you have to see God’s world?” Have kids answer by choosing the correct color or number of jelly beans or cereal pieces from their cups and eating them.

Bible Connections: Creation, Genesis 1; Joseph’s Coat, Genesis 37:3-4; God’s Flowers, Luke 12:27-28; 10 Commandments, Exodus 20: 1-17; Four Men in the Furnace, Daniel 3:8-29; Five Foolish Girls, Matthew 25:1-13; Parable of the Talents, Matthew 25:14-30; Loaves and Fish, Mark 6:30-44; 10 Coins, Luke 15:8-10; 10 Lepers, Luke 17:11-19.

Ingredients: Paper cups, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, pine nuts, and measuring spoons.

Create “bird food” mix for the kids in your class with this simple recipe. Combine equal parts of sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and pine nuts and divide mixture into paper cups.

Bible Connections: The Sower and the Seed, Mark 4:1-8; Jesus Cares for Birds and Flowers, Luke 12:22-31.

Ingredients: Sugar cookies, decorator’s tube icing, paper plates.

Give each child two cookies and two paper plates. Have kids draw a heart outline on each cookie with tube icing, and then put the cookies on paper plates. Read one or more of the Bible connections. Let kids keep one cookie and give the other cookie to another person as a gift.

Bible Connections:  Wise Men Give Gifts, Matthew 2:1-12; Boy Shares His Lunch, John 6:1-15; Widow Gives Her Money, Mark 12:41-44; Zacchaeus Shares His Money, Luke 19:1-10; Woman Anoints Jesus With Perfume, John 12:1-8.

Ingredients: Cheez Whiz processed cheese spread and crackers.

Have kids draw cross shapes on their crackers using Cheez Whiz processed cheese spread. For a sweeter version of this snack, substitute tube decorator’s icing and graham crackers.

Bible Connections: Jesus Died on a Cross, John 19:16-18.

Ingredients: Pinata or a paper grocery bag, tempera paints, markers, crepe paper, glue or tape, treats, broomstick, blindfold, and a large activity area.

Breaking a piñata is a great way to symbolize God’s shower of blessings on us. Pinatas are available at toy stores and some grocery stores, but if you don’t have access to one, your class can create its own by decorating the outside of a paper grocery bag with tempera paints, markers, crepe paper, and glue or tape.

Be creative with your blessing treats. You can fill your pinata with individual bags of gummy animals, cookie people, chocolate hearts or coins, marshmallows that represent snow or clouds, broccoli or cauliflower that represent plants and trees, or crescent-shaped cookie moons.

Move all the other children a safe distance away before anyone starts swinging. Have kids take turns being blindfolded. Give each child three chances to whack the pinata.

Once the pinata is broken, have kids discuss the blessings God has showered on us, in addition to the blessings in the pinata.

Bible Connections: Creation, Genesis 1 and Psalm 104; God’s Care, Luke 12:22-31.

For more unique ways to incorporate food into your lessons, try these books.

Incredible Edible Bible Fun -- Fill kids with food...and God’s Word with these 50 fun snack-based activities. $15.99, Group Publishing, Inc., 800-447-1070; www.grouppublishing .com

   FoodFun Devotions for Children’s Ministry -- 40 kid-friendly, teacher-approved recipes in this book. Each recipe is tied to a devotion or project and takes less than 20 minutes to prepare. $15.99, Group Publishing, Inc., 800-447-1070; www.grouppublishing.com

Ingredients: Star- and heart-shaped cookie cutters; paper plates; cheese, bread, or pre-made Jell-O Jigglers gelatin.

Have kids use cookie cutters to cut stars and hearts from cheese slices, bread, or Jell-O Jigglers gelatin. If you choose bread, you may wish to include jam or apple butter for kids to spread on their shapes.

Bible Connections:  Stars: God’s Promise to Abraham, Genesis 15:1-6; Wise Men Follow the Star, Matthew 2:1-12. Hearts: David Cares for Jonathan’s Son, 2 Samuel 9:1-8; Jesus Loves Children, Mark 10:13-16; The Good Samaritan, Luke 10:30-37; The Prodigal Son, Luke 15:11-24.