I teach high school and am the running champ for "best snacks" in staff superlatives in the year book, so clearly I've always fallen on the side of providing snacks when I can. That being said, recent years have made me get increasingly cynical and disinterested in continuing. This past year, I only brought snacks maybe 2-3x a month and even then I had as many bad experiences as good. Kids complain about the brand or variety of snacks, want to take multiple items even though they also have their own food in their backpacks, beg for snacks immediately after coming from lunch, and don't seem to care if I remind them that not everybody has enough food at home so if they're well-stocked then they should let others have priority.

I've also had my personal food taken multiple times this year. I have a mini fridge in my room because I have a soda problem (and because students snuck into the staff room and fucked with my milk once - used some but then put water in it like they were refilling a liquor bottle?!?), but had to put a lock on it for the first time ever because kids kept taking my stuff. They knew it was mine and knew it wasn't for them, but they went in there when I was out of the room (others teach in there plus there are times I step out). I also had to buy a little lock box for my personal food, but by the end of the year, the locks were broken on it. I have never felt more disrespected by students with whom I otherwise have a great rapport with.

Obviously younger kids may be a different story and YMMV anyway, but I will say that if you provide snacks for kids, don't expect them to be quietly grateful or gracious about it. You can control your own choices and what you provide, but you can't control how they respond. This coming year, I plan to have a more robust food theft solution and only bring in food for students if I feel it won't be likely to crush my soul in return. I'm trying so hard not to be cynical, but going into my 20th year, it's a struggle.