One of the questions I regularly get asked* is about why younger youth groups are high as kites, twice as mad and fourteen times as noisy. Well assuming that it's not a windy day (kids are always craaazzzyyy on windy days) then I generally ask about the tuck shop as this is the quickest way to an easy improvement. If the tuck shop is full of coloured sugar confectionery then the kids will generally be bouncing off the walls as a result of ingesting multifarious sugars and additives.
This however does pose a problem as to what to replace the tuck with? Fruit has limited appeal and goes off really fast. Toast works in some settings BUT generally it's kind of difficult to replace the attractively hued sucrose with something that will actually appeal and sell.
However, coming out of the Motorway services on the M42 today a lady pressed a packet of "Mini Bearables" into my hand and claimed she was part of the Natural Confectionery Co. and that the proffered comestibles contained no artificial flavours or colours!
I planned to take them home to my 8 year old for a live taste and behaviour test BUT I began my own inquiries and my scientific experimentation accounted for the entire sample.
I checked out the web site though which was intriguing (and fun) but contained no useful information on sourcing them. Still, assuming it's not a windy day .... they may be worth a try!
*The other question I get asked a lot is whether I could please stop singing
I was at Oxford services the other day (same operator) and throughout our stop me and my family went in and out of the services several times, being given a collection of these sweets every time. I haven't worked out quite what I'm supposed to do with them - right now they're still piled up on the kitchen table!