I use the cheapest item around.....a single broom straw. I have done this for years. I pull a broom straw off at the base of a standard broom, most are up to 20 inches long, and skewer the food. The straw is small enough to not scare lionfish, eels, etc. as you bring the food to them and small enough the food slips off easily when they or an anemone grabs it. At the most, you fist enters the water (wash it first!) but not your arm. You can wiggle the food around to entice lionfish (who usually want their food alive!) or groupers, eels, snappers. I have done this for over 25 years of fish keeping and have not found anything better.....or cheaper!
Mike