Irish and Psalm 23 themed snacks are coming right up for ya lads and lassies.
Perfectly planned for Emerald Crossing VBS by Answers in Genesis.
Please note that I am still in the process of fully planning for our Emerald Crossing VBS so there will be changes to this post as we run our program and finalize selections. We’ll be running our VBS the last week of June, but I have posted now so you can use this information as a help and inspiration for your planning. You may need to make tweaks to serving sizes, quantities, etc. and have patience with the post formatting until it is complete in July 2026.
Planning VBS snacks
My first year planning snacks for our church VBS program was Wonder Junction in 2025. I had SO MUCH FUN coming up with themed snacks and playing the part of Sweet Sadie at the Chuckwagon. If you’re looking for western themed VBS snacks you can read all about what we did that first year on my Western Themed Snacks blog post.
I knew Answers in Genesis revealed the next years theme in June, so as soon as we wrapped up that amazing week I was already spinning my gears thinking up ideas for the upcoming Emerald Crossing VBS theme. So. Many. Good. Ideas.
VBS, St. Patrick’s Day, and More
Below you will find few things that I have put together for Irish and Psalm 23 themed snacks. Don’t limit yourself to just VBS, these ideas would be great for St. Patrick’s Day, themed educational/class parties, and other celebrations of Irish heritage.
Planning for Scale
Our VBS includes kids from ages 3 to 6th grade. These age groups need different portion sizes. You will notice that some snacks include ranges to help you plan accordingly.
Our VBS runs between 150-200 kids and volunteers. To make multiplication easier for your group I have made the charts on each post for supplies based on 50, 100, 150, and 200 participants.
I have also adjusted the portion sizes of some snacks to account for preschool and younger children. You will find the smaller portions noted as PreK. We have kids up to 7th grade in our VBS and those older boys can EAT. Adjust for your needs as you see fit.
Allergen Considerations
I have put allergy information when I can. It’s always a good idea to have some allergy friendly snacks on hand to be given out as an alternate through the week as needed.
DAY ONE: The Lord is my Shepherd
When I think Ireland I think potatoes, and when I think shepherd, I think shepherd’s pie. This is the PREFECT snack to start out our great week at VBS Emerald Crossing. I’ve put together a simple recipe and assembly that will allow this dish to be quickly and easily prepared for a large crowd.
An alternate snack for this day would be a sheep themed snack. See additional Psalm 23 snack ideas at the end of this post.
SNACK: Mini Shepherd’s Pie
DRINK: Water or milk
Alternate Snack: Some sort of sheep snack (see list at the end of this post)
Day Two: Green Pastures & Still Waters
When I imagine green pastures in Ireland, I picture fluffy white sheep and cute little goats grazing on spring green grass. What better VBS themed snack than a grazing board. Since we’re talking about green pastures, why not make it ALL green. Basically, each child will get their own mini green fruit and veggie tray/charcuterie plate.
Since we are using plastic “nacho” trays on day five, that would make an easy serving dish for this day as well. The little nacho cheese compartment would work great for a green dip or some little green candies.
Green Food Ideas
HEALTHY: green grapes, green apple slices, broccoli, celery sticks, cucumber slices, green bell peppers, kiwi, peas, green dill/onion dip, pickles, guacamole, green olives, asparagus, green go-go squeeze applesauce pouches
SWEET: green M&M’s, green apple flavored candies (such as gummy rings), various mint flavored treats, green foil Hershey’s kisses.
SALTY: Harvest Snaps crisps, Vlasic pickle balls
SNACK: Green Pastures Grazing Board
DRINK : Still Water
Serving Size: One cup
Day Three: Walk through the valley, comfort me
Just as a mother bird comforts her young in the safety of her nest, God is with us, comforting us in the storm and keeping us under his wing.
SNACK: Green Pastures Grazing Board
DRINK: Milk or Water
Alternative: Irish Soda Bread
Bread is the ultimate comfort food. Why not serve Irish soda bread with butter? Perhaps an Irish Apple Cake or Apple Crumble would be better suited.
Grandma’s Irish Soda Bread
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/16947/amazingly-easy-irish-soda-bread
Day Four: My Cup Runneth Over
When I imagine a cup running over, I think of a bubbly drink cascading over the edges of a frosty glass. Like when you shake a bottle of soda before opening or get a root beer straight from the keg.
Our VBS often has ice cream donated from a local ice cream shop, and what better way to use it than by making floats? Even if you don’t have ice cream available, cream sodas are an easy drink that cuts back on the sugary canned beverages you could buy at a store. Made of carbonated water (tonic, seltzer, or similar), flavor syrup, and cream (or half and half), a real cream soda is a special treat.
Since we’re in Ireland why not make it an Irish Cream Soda with a double play on the word cream?
Drink: Irish Cream Soda Floats
Snack: My Puff Overflows Snack Cup
THIS POST IS STILL IN THE WORKS
Serving Size: One cup
The VBS manual calls for an overflowing cup of popcorn. The VBS snack coordinator at our old church suggested you never serve popcorn to 200 kids, so we are doing puff corn instead. We did cheeseballs last year in our Panning for Gold Snack and it went over well.
SUPPLIES LIST
- green gingham cups
- white butter flavor puffcorn
Day Five: Goodness and Mercy, Dwell in the House of the Lord
What says Ireland more than potatoes? Today’s snack features golden round hash browns and a yummy Irish inspired dip. Serve in a plastic nachos tray or in a paper boat with cups of dip on the side.
SNACK: Potato “Cakes” with (Irish) Cheese Sauce
THIS POST IS ALSO STILL IN WORKS. (I still need to photograph it) but you can find the link below….
Other Irish Themed Snack Foods to Consider
Gardetto Garlic Rye Chips
Kerrygold Butter
Irish Onion Soup
Reubens
Potato Cakes
Corned Beef
Cabbage
Other Psalm 23 Themed Snacks to Consider
Sheep Snacks (See my Emerald Crossing Pintrest board for some super cute ideas!)
Breadsticks (shepherds rod & staff, consider making a curved top for a staff shape)
Pretzel RODS and hummus
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