Home Children's Ministry Leaders Articles for Children's Ministry Leaders Allergy Friendly Treats: Offer KidMin Snacks That All Children Can Enjoy

Allergy Friendly Treats: Offer KidMin Snacks That All Children Can Enjoy

allergy friendly treats

Allergy friendly treats are vital for children’s ministry classrooms and events. Use these online resources when gathering snacks to serve kids at church.

Children attending kidmin classes and events usually anticipate snacks or treats. But about 5.6 million U.S. children have food allergies. That means 1 in 13 kids who attend your events can’t munch on a Milky Way or sneak a Snickers.

In the Bible, Jesus tells a parable about a lost sheep. In addition to valuing the multitude, the Good Shepherd values one little lost lamb (Matthew 18:12-13).

As children’s ministry leaders, let’s follow our Good Shepherd’s lead. Even when it comes to snacks. Children’s special circumstances don’t surprise or inconvenience their heavenly Father. If food is an instrument to share God’s love, let’s offer options that all kids can enjoy.

According to the FDA, eight foods cause the most common food allergies. These include milk, soy, eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish. You probably won’t serve up seafood. However, you may wonder which snacks or candies are safe.

Lists of Allergy Friendly Treats & Snacks

Help is here! We found organizations that specialize in food allergy advocacy. They’ve researched and compiled lists of tasty treats for all kids. These three sites have especially helpful guidance.

1. Spokin

The mission of this website and app is to “make managing food allergies and Celiac easier.” It offers suggestions for safe foods, restaurants, bakeries, travel, and recipes. A visual Halloween guide  categorizes candy by specific types of allergies.

2. Kids With Food Allergies

According to its website, “Kids With Food Allergies is a division of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), the nation’s oldest and leading asthma and allergy not-for-profit organization.” Check out the downloadable Allergy Friendly Halloween Candy Guide.

3. Allergic Living

According to their website, “Allergic Living informs, engages and assists readers living with food allergies, and environmental allergies and asthma. Our mission is to be the authoritative and trustworthy source of news and information for the allergy community.” They also provide an Allergy Friendly Treats list.

Allergy Friendly Treats: 4 Delicious Takeaways

Now that you’ve digested this information, remember these tasty takeaways:

1. No special ordering needed!

Most treats on these lists are available at grocery stores.

2. Allergy friendly treats are still delicious.

Depending on a child’s specific allergy, kid-favorites like Sour Patch Kids, Twizzlers, and Hershey Kisses are delicious, doable options. Children won’t even miss the peanuts!