Reply #43: You can't go wrong with cans of fruit.

[shimmergal]

Most kids love them (as opposed to veggies, which they can be real picky about, if they eat them at all) and they can be opened and eaten right out of the can. Yes, they're sweet but lots better for fiber and vitamins than the other stuff mentioned at the start.

Not especially cheap, but groceries regularly run specials on them. Like last night I served five (3 kids) with a 20 oz. can of Dole pineapple chunks that cost 83 cents.

Time binds, storage conditions, handicaps -- any of these can make buying and using fresh produce an iffy thing. There's no point in having them on hand if you lack the time or conditions to clean and prepare them before they go bad. I've had to learn this the hard way, because by a late dinner-time I'm just not physically capable of all the standing, lifting etc. that cooking-from-scratch involves.

Bless you for helping even though your money is short!