Where Do YOU Get Free Snacks or Treats for Your Kids While Shopping?
Check out this email from Rebecca –
“I recently saw a comment from a Hip2Saver that mentioned kids get a free cookie at Sam’s club everyday. I also saw recently in a Target comment thread about kids being offered a free clementine or treat at some Super Target stores and some people had similar comments about grocery stores offering freebies to their kids.
I was not aware of these possibly ongoing offers and I am curious – do people have to stop and ask at the bakery or snack bar, or is it usually just offered in their area by a designated employee? Could you consider running a post with a comment section dedicated to this? People could share which stores offer this, which regional stores have something like this, how to obtain the snack, where to look for it, etc.”
At Hyvee grocery stores you can always get a free kids cookie at the bakery, a free kids balloon at floral and they have free produce such as bananas and clementines in baskets in the produce department.
Walmart bakery offers free cookies. Krogers has free cookies, free fruit, and free suckers
I never heard of our walmart or Kroger offering free cookies. Walmart here won’t even let you use multiple coupons (5 coupons for 5 coffee etc) yuo can only use one same coupon per shopping order.
Giant Eagle treat kids card! (it costs $1 for the whole year, and the money goes to local children’s hospitals) You posted about it a while ago – it allows a choice of a cookie, a piece of fruit (apple, banana or clementine) or a slice of cheese from the deli counter. If you want to get it, you just go to the service desk and pay a buck. Also, if the fruit is not in the specially designated bin, I’ve never had a problem asking (for a banana, which my son adores) to take one from the regular bin.
I’m in WA state. Albertson’s,Winco,Yokes,Walmart, and Fred Myer give out cookies or bakery items. Albertsons also will give a banana or sliced apples. Costco is my kids favorite because of the demos. Target gives out stickers.
Sometimes Kroger has them out, sometimes you have to ask. The bakery ladies know us! I love that they also have fruit now. That is in the produce department. It is t terribly obvious, but there is a sign and now my kids know to look for it and spot it at different krogers before I do.
The Kroger chain store (Fry’s Food in AZ) recently put out fresh fruit for the kids to have while shopping! This is a great option instead of a cookie (which is still offered in the bakery department). I recently heard Target does this too, has anyone heard?
Publix cookie and deli. Win dixie gives cookies and quite often cake pieces too. Target cookie. Walmart cookies. You never know, just ask wherever you go! I’ve even had some give quarters for those toy and candy machines by registers. One store in sea world even gave us free shark teeth!
Shoprite has free cookies in the bakery section.
I had no idea…do we have to ask? Or do they put them out?
My shoprite you usually just ask. I’m in southern new jersey
This really must be regional because my walmart, sams, and kroger never have anything out for kids. Ever. And really i would ràther pack snacks for my kids from home than deal with whining and begging in a store.
You have to ask at the bakery, it is never out. The kids always ask the lady “can we have a cookie?” They are super nice!
Giant eagle has the bins with free fruit for kids and they give free cookies at the bakery.
United Supermarkets (including MarketStreet and Amigos) in Texas gives kids a free piece of fruit. You just help yourself to a banana or apple in the produce section then tell the cashier.
Harris teeters in Wilmington Nc have cookie bins, one regular sugar, one low fat sugar each hold gets to pick one
The bins are usually near customer service desk
They also have multiple sample bins throughout produce & deli areas
My son likes the muffin sample bites & cantaloupe the best
My local target has a basket with cuties in it with a sign say free. I read through the comments and I saw some people their hyvee gives a ballon or a cookie and fruit. My hyvee must suck cause they never do that. They only have sample ladies.
Costco gives free cookies at the bakery when you ask! Their chocolate chip cookies are my favorite!
Publix bakery offers a cookie to kids while shopping. Our Kroger now has a set of baskets in the produce area for kids where they can get an apple, orange, banana, small bottled water, gogo squeeze or organic cheese puffs.
Trader Joes will give cookies if you ask, also Lollypop if you find creature they hide around the store
I didnt know about Kroger! I’m so going to try soon! And my whole foods gives fruit for kids…another location you have to show a kids club card to get any fruit free at whole foods I think depends on location…our central market has .25 cents fruit for the kids…and Chickfila you can trade in your toy in the kids meal for ice cream – which we do everytime…and trader joes gives us lollipops / stickers everytime we go…I think I covered all that I know LOL!
Anyone living in Plainfield, IL area can try Peter rubi on route 59. They have free fruit and granola bars for kids
Most whole foods has a kid center near the front with fruit and other snacks for kids while shopping.
Wegmans offers this. There is always a bin near the bakery with small cookies for children. There is often apples there as well.
festival foods here in wi! i’ve never noticed kids getting free cookies at walmart here though.
My Simon mall has a kids club you can join for $5. They have a list of stores that give freebies or discounts to members. My son gets a free mini cookie at one restaurant in the food court. Other deals include buy one adult meal get a free kids meal at rubys diner, free stickers at some store, free drink with meal purchase at several food court places, etc. They have a wheel at the customer service kiosk that the kids get to spin for a little prize every time they go. It’s the best $5 spent! I highly suggest checking out other Simon malls!
Thank you Vivian, I’ve seen this offered at the customer service desk in my Simon Mall and never signed up because I wasn’t sure if it was worth the $5.00 fee. Thanks to you I will sign up my little guy tomorrow since we will be at the mall. He loves when things are specific to him, so I know this will make him super happy.
Simon mall deal is the BEST with Kid’s Club!! A few years back I signed up both my boys and they gave them cute club t-shirts for them. Also, they have special “camps” throughout the summer for kids like mini golf and bowling!!! They have special things for them to do around major holidays like Halloween and Christmas. Unfortunately, my boys are too “old” now to participate. Signup with your email so that they can send you emails when they have upcoming specials for the kids. It is SO worth it just the $5 membership fee!!
My child has got the freebies mostly figured out and that gets her in the door for me. Marsh grocery (Indiana) has “baby shopping carts” to use and a free cookie if she asks at deli counter. Rural King has free popcorn and “baby shopping carts”. Pay-Less (Kroger) has car carts, sometimes free samples, and I’m pretty sure free cookies at bakery counter if you ask (not really wanting her to figure it out). There are also places that give suckers or stickers and she knows those too!
In NC, our Harris Teeter markets have free sugar cookies for all kiddos❤️
My Fred Meyer has a basket of fruits with a sign saying “please take a snack and enjoy” for kids while the parents shop. And sometimes at the bakery they would have trays of cookies out.
Winco is my Favorite!! All the ones I’ve been to in Idaho and California do this. At the deli counter they’ll give out a free wedge Potato Fry or a slice of cheese. One time there was a new guy and must have been confused cause he rang up one potato fry for my daughter 😄 If they don’t offer as I get my lunch meat I just ask for a sample fry so I don’t confuse someone again
Safeway and Albertsons in my area(WA) give out free cookies at the bakery. Sometimes a trays out, sometimes not, but my son always asks. Plus at Safeway each of my sons got a free banana card, which is awesome! They usually eat the cookie in the store and the banana in the car or once we get home.
Costco….we hunt down the free samples like we are deer hunting in the forest.
Hyvee has the best kids club. Free hot chocolate at their Starbucks. Free cookie. Free slice cheese. Free banana or orange. Etc…
Good to know, but why foster this habit? So kids can expect something free everywhere they go or as a bribery to behave?
i am thinking that for those times when i have to go immediately run errands after school pick-up, that it will help my kids to be able to run my errands more patiently instead of being grouchy and in a hurry to get home if they are starving for an after-school snack.
the stores probably feel that if the kid is interested to be in the store, and not cranky-hungry, that the parents will be able to spend a bit longer and browse, rather than just hurrying in & out due to crying kids.
plus, if i have a choice of 2 grocery stores to go to, and the sales were pretty much the same, i would go to the one that offers my children a free banana or cookie as my first choice!
I feel the same way. I actually avoid the stores that give my kids free cookies. It’s annoying to me when they expect treats everywhere they go.
HEB in Texas has a free cookie for children in the bakery. Just go up and ask. They also have Buddy Bucks you get at the check out. Just ask!
Notice most of these places give a free cookie, my kids don’t need that! More healthy choices!
I don’t see what one cookie would really hurt. I think it’s nice they offer anything at all. Their not obligated to do so.
i agree- i like the cookie option because i can give my child fruit at home. i don’t often keep baked goods on hand. if i need bribery, a cookie might do the trick to let me shop a little longer.
plus, oranges are might be sticky all over the cart and drip down the kids’ arms and chin at the store where i don’t have an easy clean-up option.
the choice of items is nice for parents who are looking for a non-cookie option, but 2 of my kids need the extra fat. i’m not being sarcastic, if anyone has struggled with “failure to thrive” or extra-high metabolism or Cystic Fibrosis in your family, it can be heart-breaking and difficult to watch your children struggle to make gains. (fruit has fiber & sugars, but low calories, while baked goods have calories, grains, and the necessary extra fats. fruits also make you feel fuller sooner, and can limit your hunger for a bit of time after.)
Well don’t you think everything in moderation? Nothing wrong with a cookie now and then.
My JewelOsco in Chicago has a Free Fruit Card for kids at registers plus a basket with apples and bananas. Every child under 12years can pick one piece of fruit completely free. My 5 and 9 year old kids absolutely love to show their card to the cashier,than pick the fruit and eat it right away.
My Meijer has a bin of fruit (apples, bananas, oranges) for kids to grab if they need a snack.
My Cub Foods grocery store in Minnesota allows kids to take a free piece of fruit (only from a specially marked bin, not just any piece of fruit). The bin is located in the produce section at the end of one of the freestanding units that holds fruits like apples, grapes and bananas. There are usually apples, oranges or tangerines in there.
Here in So Cal, stater bros. gives a free cookie in the bakery and a free balloon in the floral department. Albertsons gives a cookie, fruit or string cheese. Walmart gives a cookie in the bakery.
Harris teether always have cookies or cakes or fruits for taste.kids kove it
I know it’s not shopping but you can trade in your kids meal toy for an ice cream at chick fil a
In my area Big Y and Stop & Shop give free cookies. Regular Target gives a sticker to kids for a free small popcorn at their service counter.
Les Scwab has free popcorn while you wait and we love to stop at See’s Candy for a free piece of chocolate.
Free cookies for kids at Hyvee bakery!
We shop at Sprouts weekly and they always have a variety of things for the kids. We’ve gotten chocolate milk, cuties, and bananas on multiple occasions. They were even giving moms flowers once. 🙂
I work at Franz Bakery Outlet and we give the kiddos a free small bag of frosted animal cookies.
Trader Joe’s kids get a banana, apple, or halo for $.10. I wish all stores offered fruit
That’s the way to go! FRUIT instead of junk.
Most grocery stores that have deli’s will give a piece of lunch meat or a slice of cheese if you ask.
HyVee has free cookies and cheese for kids!
I always stop at Publix bakery for a chocolate chip for me and sugar cookie for the little ones.
There’s a great produce market, Peter Rubi, here in Plainfield that always has bananas for the kids. They also have samples of different fruits, salsas or guacamole for grown ups too. It changes day to day.
Free cookie at meijer at bakery for kids!
Shop-rite will usually give my son a free balloon from the floral department.