We’re a month into the school year which means it’s about that time when we get into a lunch and snack rut with the kids. If they’re tired of the same old and you’re out of ideas, we’re right there with you. We know you’re trying to avoid overly processed stuff, your kids want something more exciting than carrots or apple slices and you’re too exhausted to be creative.
In an effort to find snacks with simpler ingredients, we’ve rounded up a bunch of sweet and savory ones to try. Of course, the best snacks are whole foods like fruits and veggies but that doesn’t always match the reality of what our kids will actually eat. With that in mind, here are some of our favorite snack ideas.
Cooper Street Cookies and Granola Bakes
Why We Love Them: These cookies and granola bakes are made with locally sourced ingredients. We also love that Cooper Street is a woman-owned family business founded by Michigan mom Elaine Surnow and run alongside her two sons, Max and Sam. The brand’s Blueberry Pomegranate mini bars are made with Michigan blueberries and pomegranate plus quinoa, flax, chia seed and buckwheat. They’re also peanut-free, tree nut-free, dairy-free, and soy-free. The granola bakes also come in chocolate cherry and oatmeal cranberry. They are mini, so smaller than your usual snack bar, and a great afterschool snack. Cooper Street Granola Bakes, Variety Pack of 24, $24.99, cooperstreet.com
SuckerPunch Pickle Pouch Snack Packs
Why We Love Them: If your kids love pickles next to their sandwich, these pickle pouches are a snack and lunchtime game changer. The chip-cut pickles come are a great gluten-free, vegan and non-GMO snack option. The pickles come in a bunch of flavors (a couple have extra spice) but our favorite is the classic kosher dill pickle pack. SuckerPunch Pickles, $27.48 for a 12-pack, amazon.com
Stellar Snacks Simply Stellar Pretzels
Why We Love Them: A mother daughter founded company, Stellar Snacks makes pretzels (a favorite in my house) in a ton of flavors. Each is infused with vegan butter and a pinch of sea salt. A few we especially love are the original Simply Stellar Pretzel Braids with sea salt, Maui Monk pretzel braids made with Maui onion which has a hint of sweetness and Truffle Pesto Pretzel Thins baked with avocado oil. The pretzels are vegan and gluten, grain and peanut-free. Each bag is thoughtfully designed by a local artist, too. Simply Stellar (1.5 oz snack bags), $29.99 for a case of 24, stellarsnacks.com
Why We Love Them: These protein balls come in flavors like Almond Coconut Chocolate and Peanut Butter Chocolate and are a nice alternative to traditional protein bars though smaller (and just 100 calories each). Made with healthy fats and plant proteins, you’ll be able to recognize the long list of fruit and veggie ingredients. They’re easy to pack for the kids to have before sports practice or an after-school activity. Both flavors have nuts. ModBalls, $28.49 for a 20-serving bag, amazon.com/modballs
Why We Love Them: These peanut snack packs are filled with home-cooked and lightly salted Virginia peanuts. They’re vegan, non-GMO and free from hydrogenated oils. Hubs Peanuts, $1 per pack, hubspeanuts.com
Why We Love Them: Mary’s Gone Crackers are gluten-free, kosher and organic and the protein in them is sourced from plants. We’re obsessed with the crisp and flavor of the original crackers but also love the real thin crackers, the super seed seaweed and black sesame and cheddar flavors. Mary’s Gone Crackers (prices vary), marysgonecrackers.com
Lundberg Family Farms Rice Cakes
Why We Love Them: These rice cakes are made from non-GMO organic certified rice and come in a bunch of sweet and savory flavors including kettle corn, cracked black pepper, buffalo ranch, white cheddar, apple pie and fiesta lime. They’re also gluten, dairy and nut-free. Lundberg Family Farms Organic Rice Cake Minis, $4.79 per 5 oz. bag, lundberg.com
Harvest Snaps White Cheddar Baked Green Pea Snacks
Why We Love It: These crunchy, cheesy crisps are made from green peas and have plant-based protein and fiber. Baked and minimally processed, they’re also nut and gluten-free and come in red lentil, black bean and other flavors. Harvest Snaps Snacks (3oz), $2.69 at target.com
GoGo squeeZ and GoGo squeeZ Active Fruit Blend with Electrolytes
Why We Love Them: Yes they’re higher in sugar (12 grams per pouch) but they’re also organic, made with a short list of non-GMO ingredients. They’re also convenient (my daughter keeps a pouch in her soccer bag to have before practice) and there are new fruit blends with electrolytes, too. GoGo squeeZ and GoGo squeeZ Active Fruit Blend with Electrolytes (prices vary), amazon.com
Chobani Complete Drinks
Chobani Complete Drinks come in flavors like strawberry cream and mixed berry vanilla and have 20 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber. A good source of probiotics, they’re a nice alternative to yogurt cups. My kids like them at the end of the school day before soccer practice. Chobani Complete Mixed Berry Vanilla, $2,79 each, amazon.com and available at most supermarkets
Once Again Graham Cracker Sandwiches
These non-GMO gluten-free graham cracker sandwiches are made with peanut butter or sunflower seed butter for kids with nut allergies. Each has 6 or 7 grams of sugar per serving (depending on the flavor) and the peanut and sunflower seed butter make it feel like a satisfying snack for the kids.
Once Again Peanut Butter Graham Cracker Sandwiches, $14.78 for a box of 8 sandwich packs
Once Again Sunflower Seed Butter Graham Cracker Sandwiches, $14.39 for a box of 8 sandwich packs
GOOD GOOD Sandwich Spreads
If you’ve been looking for nut butters and spreads with cleaner ingredients and less sugar, GOOD GOOD is a brand that should be on your radar. A great addition to apple slices or other fruits or on a sandwich, GOOD’s jams, jellies, and spreads have no added sugar. The jams and jellies come in strawberry, concord grape, and cherry flavors. The chocolate spread has a delicious mix of chocolatey richness and nutty goodness with less sugar (3 grams per serving). GOOD also makes no-added-sugar peanut butter and lemon curd spreads for your rotation. GOOD GOOD Jams, Nut Butters and More, prices vary, goodgoodbrand.com
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