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Offsite Projects: Trail mix, Snack Sacks, and Breakfast Bundles

Trail mix, Snack Sacks, and Breakfast Bundles

Kids' Food Basket is fighting childhood hunger one Sack Supper at a time -- and there are so many ways you can join us! Every Sack Supper includes about 1,000 calories and five food groups, such as a serving of fresh fruits or veggies, a meat and cheese sandwich, 100% fruit juice box, granola bar, and a healthy snack such as trail mix.

The snacks are a popular part of the Sack Supper, and they are an area where we need your help. Most snacks need to be prepared or repackaged from a bulk package. There are two ways you can help with creating snacks for the Sack Suppers:

Snack Sacks

This is great for a large group! You can make small snack suppers for children to eat on long weekends and holidays. Your group will collect the ingredients and fill up the zipper baggies to make these snack packs. Each Snack Sack costs about 75 cents to make and must include one of each of the following in a quart size zipper lock baggie (Please note that we only accept Snack Sacks with the correct items in them.  See below):

  • Individual Pudding or Fruit Cup
  • Cracker Pack or Sunflower Seeds
  • Granola Bar
  • .28 oz Meat Stick (individually wrapped - these can be found at Sam’s Club in 100 count packs) or 2 oz Peanuts

In addition, these are great snack items that are optional and can be added if desired:

  • Raisins (single serving size)
  • 100% Vitamin C Fruit Snack

Each snack sack is labeled. We can label these at Kids' Food Basket, or if you'd like, you can label them using Avery 1" x 2 5/8" mailing labels. Click here to download the file for the snack sack labels.

If you are creating snack sacks with young children, have a parent re-count the items to make sure each baggie is full.

Breakfast Bundles

This is also great for a large group! You can make breakfast bundles for children to eat on long weekends and holidays. Your group will collect the ingredients and fill up the zipper baggies to make these snack packs. Each breakfast bundle costs about $1-1.50 to make and must include one of each of the following in a ziploc quartsize baggie (Please note that we only accept Breakfast Bundles with the correct items in them. See below):

  • Single serving cereal box
  • Small 100% fruit juice box (less than 7 oz.)
  • Poptart pack
  • Small Raisin box or 100% Vitamin C Fruit Snack

Each breakfast bundle is labeled. We can label these at Kids' Food Basket, or if you'd like, you can label them using Avery 1" x 2 5/8" mailing labels. Click here to download the file for the breakfast bundle labels.

If you are creating breakfast bundles with young children, have a parent re-count the items to make sure each baggie is full.

Popcorn Project

Please note: All popcorn MUST be assembled in a facility licensed for food preparation. Please contact us with any questions.

Supply List

  • Large bags of popcorn
  • Zipper lock sandwich baggies
  • Food service gloves
  • 8-10 oz plastic cups
  • Plastic party tubs or similar size boxes lined with clear plastic can liners

Instructions

  1. Make sure everyone washes their hands and puts on a pair of gloves. Pull back long hair into a pony tail.
  2. Pour large bags of popcorn into plastic tubs.
  3. Fill 8-10 oz plastic cup to the top by dipping it into the tub of popcorn.
  4. Pour this into one zipper lock sandwich baggie. One person can scoop and another can hold and close the baggies.
  5. Make sure the baggies are all sealed TIGHTLY.
  6. Repeat until the popcorn is gone. One large bag of popcorn should fill about 120 sandwich baggies.

Notes

  • The large bags of popcorn can be purchased at Celebration! Cinema in the Rivertown Crossings Mall in Grandville for only $15.  (The Popcorn Company also sells popcorn in bulk.)
  • If doing this project with young children, have a parent involved with children at each station.

Trail Mix Project

This is great for a large group. We have a recipe for making some of the best trail mix in Grand Rapids! The group collects the ingredients, mixes them, and goes to work scooping and bagging individual portions for the Sack Suppers.

Please note: All trail mix MUST be assembled in a facility licensed for food preparation. Please contact us with any questions.  Please note that we only accept Trail Mix with the correct items in it. 

Supply List (for 3,600 bags)

  • (26) 3 lb 4 oz cans of peanuts
  • (52) 36 oz bags of raisins or dried fruit
  • (52) 16 oz bags of mini-twist pretzels
  • (104) 16 oz boxes of Cheez-it crackers or Goldfish
  • (104) 14 oz boxes of Cheerios (regular or whole grain)

Supply List (for 1,000 bags of Trail Mix, if you'd like a smaller project)

  • (7) 3 lb 4 oz cans of peanuts
  • (14) 36 oz bags of raisins or dried fruit
  • (14) 16 oz bags of mini-twist pretzels
  • (28) 16 oz boes of Cheez-It crackers or Goldfish
  • (28) 14 oz boxes of Cheerios (regular or whole grain)

Items needed for assembling and packaging

  • Ziploc sandwich baggies
  • Plastic gloves (Meijer or GFS)
  • Large mixing spoons
  • Large new plastic tubs (2-4 people per tub)
  • 8-10 oz plastic cups

Instructions

  1. Make sure everyone washes their hands and puts on a pair of gloves. Pull back long hair into a pony tail.
  2. In groups of 2 to 4 people, collect supplies to make one tub worth of trail mix, including: 1 can of peanuts, 2 bags of raisins, 2 bags of pretzels, 4 boxes of Goldfish or Cheez-it's, and 4 boxes of Cheerios.
  3. Dump above ingredients into tub and mix together well using large spoon and gloved hands.
  4. Fill large 8-10 oz plastic cup to the top by dipping it into the tub of trail mix.
  5. Pour this into one zipper lock sandwich baggie. Make sure all baggies are sealed TIGHTLY! One person can scoop and another can hold and close the baggies if desired.
  6. Repeat until large plastic bin is emptied. This will make approximately 140 baggies.
  7. Repeat steps 1 to 5 until supplies are gone!

Notes

  • Ingredients may be substituted. For example any cereal (Life, Chex, Golden Grahams, etc.) can be substituted for  Cheerios. Or instead of using only Goldfish, for instance, you may do some tubs with Goldfish and some with Cheez-Its. This may be easier when trying to collect food from organizations.
  • If doing this project with younger children, have a parent involved with children at each tub.
  • Omit peanuts if allergies are a problem for your group.

Questions?

We're here to help you get involved! Let us know if your group is trying one of these projects and if you'd like some assistance in getting started.