Fruit kabobs are fun. Thread strawberries, grapes, pineapple chunks, etc. on those thin wooden skewers. For safety, snip off the pointed end after they're threaded.

For presentation, you could hollow out a melon (using the fruit for the kabobs), poke holes it it with another skewer, and stick the kabobs in it.

What age are the students, you didn't say?

Tater tots if you can keep them warm?
Black bean and corn salad?
Yogurt and fruit parfaits?
Sliced apples with a yogurt and honey dip (you could put the dip in little disposable cups so each child would have their own)
a platter of grape tomatoes, carrot & celery sticks, wedges of cucumber sliced on the diagonal and dip cups of ranch or honey mustard dip

They're 10. Duh on my part!
:)

I'm leaning towards grab-and-go, so the kebobs work great, but I really like the way a yogurt and fruit parfait looks. Like a dessert, while being healthy. They could even be frozen, so they would be a good cool treat during the hot weather headed our way (looks to be in the upper 80s, with humidity). That seems to fit pretty well. I too thought about the apples and dip thing.

I also like the fruit kabob idea, but you could go in a completely different direction and have whole wheat breadsticks with marinara for dipping, or cheese straws or homemade soft pretzels with cheese sauce for dipping.

The fruit and yogurt parfaits would be very nice, if you have a place to keep them cool. Rice balls were always popular with my kids, I baked them instead of frying them and they had some veggies in them. They always wanted rance dressing to dip them in. Baked potato wedges with cheese are popular sometimes, again with ranch for dipping.

Most kids love corn, so if you could get good sweet corn, maybe cut them into threes or fours and steam, so the kids can just pick them up and eat them.

Or vegetable fritters, again with something for dipping, or maybe vegetable filled wraps or wontons or egg rolls...

How many kids?

Annie

Thanks for all the ideas! Annie, I think you have done it. Corn. Yes! Of course. That is LF's favorite and so he's love to represent him. Inexpensive, easy to make, and fun to eat. Now see? I needed someone who was thinking outside the box. I can sure see using the other ideas for picnics later on this summer. I love the ideas.

We do a pot-luck luncheon every year at DS' elementary school. Grab-n-go is definitely the way to go if you can. Those items always go first. The favorites are:
- egg rolls
- spam musubi
- empanadas
- bean/cheese burritos
... and of course mac & cheese

Rob- While I love the idea of fruit kabobs, please check with the school first before giving the kids a stick. Speaking from someone who works at a middle & high school, it probably wouldn't be welcomed there. Rules and kids with self control issues may come into play. Of course they're ten, but kids do do get wacky on the days when it's considered a "play" day.
JMHO, but check it out.

Thanks compumom. Isn't it amazing what becomes a "deadly" (hate that term!) weapon in the hands of certain people; e.g. a ball point pen? I am glad you said that because I was thinking of giving them a stick in the ends of their corncobs. Hm. I'll ask.

Glad you're receptive to checking it out first. I wish more parents were pro-active and not reactive! I don't see the corn sticks being as much of an issue as a pointed wood skewer used for the kabobs. We've had corn on blunt sticks (more like lollipop sticks) at school picnics for years w/o incident.
Btw, what I meant to say was "speaking AS someone who works..." :)

Heck, I'm all about keeping the babies safe! I curse (not really) the names of those that aren't thinking of the babies!!!

P.S. I never look at typos. Except when they're humorous like "but kids do do get wacky" :) You're good in my book!

Rob, most of all, have fun. And stop saying "do do", LOL, the kids would be hooting it up all day, LOL.

I love the typos, from "crap cakes" to "puppy seeds" to "kids do do". (grin)

Annie

LOL-- Gotta get my mind outta da toilet!