Easy and Healthy School Snack Ideas For Kids
Today I am sharing some healthy school snack ideas for kids.
Now that summer is almost over, and school will be in full-swing soon, I'll be back to packing daily snacks and lunches for my kids.
When it comes to packing snacks for school, it's easy to grab the bulk snacks at Costco or your local store and pop one in the backpack each day. And there are days when that is exactly what I do.
However, it's also important to think about the end goals in giving your child a snack. Generally, we want to help keep their energy up and their bellies full for optimal learning and playing. Snacks need to be balanced to do that - meaning they are not just empty calories or full of added sugars.
It's hard to do that with some of the packaged snacks on the market today, and the way that those snacks are marketed to kids and families. Luckily, there are healthier options, too. And with a little thought you can pack a snack that includes protein, healthy fats, fiber and carbohydrates to help keep those little bellies full.
Let's check out some of my favorite balanced, easy and healthy school snack ideas for kids.
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How do I make snacks more filling for my kids?
The key to a good snack combo for kids (and adults!) is a mixture of protein and/or healthy fats and carbohydrates. If you can squeeze in some fiber in the form of fruits and veggies then even better! Some of these options have nuts, and some do not. I know that our school is nut-free and yours may be too. Choose one item from each list to make a great combo.
What are some high protein snacks for kids?
These snacks are good sources of protein and/or healthy fats.
Beef sticks such as Chomps or Archer Country Provisions. These are made from grass-fed beef, have no added sugar, and depending on what size you buy can have between 4 and 9 grams of protein. I also like that these are a shelf-stable snack that holds up well in backpacks!
Nuts or trail Mix. This might not be a snack your children can to bring to school (depending on if your school is nut-free or not), but if you can, it is a good option for providing protein, healthy fats, and micronutrients. Another option is to create your own nut-free mix with seeds such as pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds. I also like nuts and trail mix as an afterschool snack
Roasted chickpea snacks. This is a great, nut-free, salty, crunchy snack. The chickpeas are chock-full of fiber and they offer some protein as well.
String cheese. An easy and portable snack. Just pop it in a lunchbox or a silicone bag with a small ice pack.
Small containers of hummus or guacamole. If you can keep it cold, this is a great option with a side of crackers or veggies.
Yogurt pouches. A good source of protein and calcium. We like Siggi's or Stonyfield pouches. You can also freeze these and let them defrost in your child's lunchbox.
Yogurt Parfait. Fill a thermos with yogurt and top with berries. This thermos has a little spoon in the lid!
Sunflower butter or other nut butter. Some crackers with a little side of sunflower or other nut butter is an easy and yummy snack combo.
What are some other healthy snack options for kids?
These foods are all carbohydrate options. The best ones also provide a dose of fiber and nutrients, and are low in sugar.
Fresh fruit. The easiest for us are apples, pears, bananas or clementines because they travel well and don't need to be kept cold. But you can certainly cut and send in a whole variety of fruits.
Vegetables. I don't send these in for snacks too often, but if you have a kid who likes baby carrots or cucumbers, take advantage! My kids love the small cocktail cucumbers.
Seaweed snacks. A simple way to get in some greens!
Smoothie and Overnight Oat pouches. I love Once Upon a Farm pouches for kids of all ages. They have fruit and veggie blends, dairy-free smoothies and overnight oat pouches - all with clean, nourishing ingredients. These do come refrigerated, but I put them in a lunchbox or a silicone bag with a mini ice pack.
Popcorn. An easy, allergy safe snack. We like Skinny Pop and Lesser Evil.
That's It bars. These bars are made with 1 or 2 simple fruits and literally - that's it. My daughter loves these. You can get a bag of the mini bars at Costco!
Skout Organic bars. Clean ingredients and lots of flavors. They have no added sugar. These are small in size and perfect for younger kids. Some flavors have nuts and some do not.
Made Good bars, granola bites, and star crackers. I like this brand for school snacks because they are allergy friendly and they have a variety of flavors.
Three Wishes Cereal. If your kids like cereal, Three Wishes is a grain-free cereal that is high in protein and low in sugar. It comes in lots of flavors, my favorite being strawberry. Pack a small bag as a snack, and if your child likes milk you could add one of the shelf-stable containers of milk to drink on the side.
I hope you find this list of healthy school snack ideas for kids helpful. Anything else you'd add? Let me know below!
If you'd like some school lunch ideas, check out this post: Quick and Easy School Lunches for Kids.
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