I asked, you answered. On June 21, I put out a call for help on the school snack front. I wanted healthy snack ideas fit for delivery to my kids' classrooms once per month but was stuck on what exactly I could provide for the two teachers charged with educating my boys. I knew what I didn't want -- cookies, crackers, chips, and otherwise junky treats -- but I wasn't sure what I could offer, short of cutting up fruit for two classrooms full of 20 kids each. Well, you did know. And you did share. And here's what you had to say.

Matt said: "How about granola? There are some good low-sugar brands out there."

Heather said "How about raisins or other dehydrated things? Raisins are great fuel for the body!" Heather suggests nuts, but cautions that there are probably serious allergy issues involved with nuts. She also recommends making crackers in the dehydrator from flaxseed and veggies.

Amma said, "There is a company called Fizzy Fruit that makes fruit cups that are packaged so the fruit is carbonated. No preservatives, just packaged so when you open it, the fruit fizzes. Kids would probably like that!

Bethany said: "I think apples are the perfect portable snack, and unless the kids are tiny, you really don't need to slice them. "

Rebee said: "You can cut up apples and put them in acidulated water (water with some lemon juice added) to keep them from browning. Celery sticks with raisins and peanut butter was always a favorite when I was a kid (replace the peanut butter with soy butter, pine-nut butter or sunflower butter for a non nut alternative). Rebee also suggests carrot sticks with hummus and little mini sandwiches cut them into fun shapes with cookie cutters to really get the kids' attention. No fridge? "Why not bring in a cooler on your days to donate," says Rebee. "It will keep most things cool until snack time."

Joy said: "Being a teacher, having less sugar and chips as a snack would be welcomed in my classroom. Sending in something that would be easily handed out is also nice as well. A water bottle to hydrate their little brains would be a nice addition to snack time instead of sugary juices. Crackers with peanut butter or cheese for those with peanut allergies. Cheese sticks or cubes would be great as well. Most schools do have a refrigerator for teachers to use and wouldn't be a major problem."

Susan had lots to say: "These aren't exactly pocket-book friendly, but I rely on these for my kids' lunches during the school year. They're convenient, organic, shelf stable, and have no high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, or partially hydrogenated fats in them:

• Kettle Valley fruit snacks (pureed, dried fruit strips)

• Late July crackers

• Clif twisted fruit

• Clif Zbars for Kids

• Stretch Island Fruitaboo

• Stonyfield Yogurt Squeezers (freeze them and by snack time they'll be thawed but still cold)

• Applesauce cups

• Boxes of raisins

• Bananas

• Apples

• Homemade trail mix

• Homemade muffins or breads

"A lot of the name brand items can be purchased online in bulk to help keep the price down.," Susan says. "I have found many of them at Amazon. Good luck!"

I'm thrilled with these ideas -- thank you, thank you, thank you -- and can't wait to put them to good use.