Pizza?  Yuuuummy.  I'm coming to your den meetings, Jeff.

When I did the den leader gig, we worked things precisely as BigMc mentioned.  If the denner chose to bring a snack, he was responsible for doing so, though it wasn't required.   We also met at 6:30 so snacks weren't really all that important.  I think if dens meet immediately after school or smack in the middle of dinner time, it'd be a different story.

My only requirement was that the snacks stay "healthy" unless it was a special occasion, since I really didn't think parents would be especially thrilled if I sugered 'em up right before going home.  The Webelos usually brought crackers or cheese sticks or something "instant" since I impressed upon them that it was their job to bring the snacks, not their mom's.  Last year when I filled in for the Wolf leader, I made no such limitations and some of those moms went crazy making fancy pants snacks.  (Seriously…? Swedish meatballs for a den meeting? Ohh, but those were the days…)

Honestly, snack time really was a good "wind down" activity for us since it required the boys sitting down and at least a little more quiet.  It gave us a good routine, since the boys knew we'd do snack then closing ceremony, then they'd do cleanup and go home.

As for pack meetings and snacks, that ends up resting on the boys.  We don't currently charge den dues but instead have a "Pack Snack Bucket".  Each boy is asked to bring $1 to each pack meeting which he has earned himself and we provide Pack snacks for the next month with those funds.  Some months we pull in more dollars than there are boys (uhh??) and other months we're lucky to bring in $3.  As a result, it's usually feast or famine around the Pack meetings.  As often as not, the boys get lemonade made from powder and not much else.  We have found that snacks they make themselves as gathering activities keeps 'em coming early, so we try to do that when funds allow.

Another local pack I know of makes each pack meeting a potluck.  Can you imagine?  Ugh.  I enjoy a good potluck as much as the next person, but I'd be tempted to quit Scouting altogether if I was forced to potluck every month.  It obviously works for their pack, though.  I guess since so many of the leaders work on the night of their  Pack meeting, it affords them the chance actually eat dinner on those nights.

Thanks Liberty and Jeff!  I know my Tigers will probably sing a more enthusiastic Happy Birthday than anyone else.  I believe I achieved the "r" status when I said, "Well, I guess I could help, if you are sure no one else is available."  Lesson learned there!

Emily

Cupcakes, even hidden away in bags, where I thought they weren't visible, were a bit of a distraction to the Tigers.  However, they did encourage the boys to wrap up their projects.

–TDL Emily

As a Lion Pride Leader, snacks are an important part of the meeting!  Snack time gives the parents the time to ask questions about the program and other questions that might have come up.  At 5 years old the boys LOVE to talk and snack time gives them that opportunity to talk about stuff off topic.

We also have snacks at our Pack Meetings.  We pick a den that is responsible for bringing the food and the Refreshments Chair brings the bug juice & coffee and takes care of serving.  Snacks aren't available until AFTER the closing ceremony so it then creates a kind of visiting time.  The parents can talk to the CM or their DL or each other.  It's like the meeting after the meeting.  If they don't want to stay they either let the kids grab snacks to go or they scoot them out real quick and avoid it all together.  For the most part, the families are real good about bringing non-sugar items….except for the December Pack meeting of course.  We also have a Bake Auction in March, but that is the main item for the Pack Meeting.