I like to think of myself as a snack pro. My pantry is never without something salty, crunchy, chewy, sweet, tangy, or some combination of those flavors and textures. Perusing the snack aisle is one of life’s joys, and as a mom of two kids, I don’t need any excuses for loading up because snacks are a necessity.
However, the sheer number of snacks available is overwhelming, especially now that there are entire supermarket aisles dedicated to kids’ products. And most of it might be delicious, but isn’t all that nutritious. So, I’ve done years of legwork for you and nailed down my top picks for healthy—whether that means high in fiber, protein-packed, or low in sugar—kid-approved snacks that I think the adults will find just as satisfying.
Little Sesame Hummus
Whether it’s those super-cute peppers I mentioned or a handful of pretzels, this is a winning protein-packed snack that’ll fill them up. Kids love having their own container of something (and as a parent, I don’t have to remind them about double-dipping). I’ve tried just about every prepared hummus on the market, and this one has the closest flavor to homemade. It’s super creamy, thanks to a strong dose of tahini, and nice acidity from lemon juice.
Archer Oven-Roasted Chicken Minis
I love the scaled-down size of this bite-sized jerky. I know my daughter would demolish a full-size stick, but this snack is more appropriately portioned for little ones. Archer does offer traditional beef jerky, but its new chicken option is the real winner. The brand recently added these to its lineup, and I’ll be stocking up when my stash is gone.
Better Sour Gummies
There is probably not a child out there who doesn’t like gummies, and if you grab a random box off the shelf at the grocery store, it’s easy to go too far in the tooth-destroying-heavily-sugared direction. Better Sours scale that back by using apple juice as well having a higher dose of fiber. They got picked this year as an inaugural winner of the BA pantry awards.
Dark Chocolate Mush
No shade to the pudding cup, but this snack has been a game-changer when my son wants something sweet after school, but I know what he really needs is a bit of protein. Mush has a slew of flavors, but the one we always buy is Dark Chocolate—the almond milk, cocoa powder, natural date sweetener, and dash of sea salt is an irresistible combo. Next time I’m at the store, I’m going to grab the Chocolate Brownie Protein (loaded with 15 grams!) and give it a whirl.
Gimme Roasted Seaweed Snacks
My non-sushi-eating daughter avoids nori at all costs, but miraculously, she still loves these. There’s a shatteringly crisp potato chip-like quality to these seaweed sheets. Sea salt is my family’s favorite flavor, but we’re also fans of the teriyaki. One note: The individual pouches come with a food-safe silica gel packet to preserve freshness. While it’s harmless, it’s still not food, and littles can easily get confused and pop one in their mouths without a warning.
Made Good Organic Granola Bites
Every school is different, but at some point, you’ll likely be faced with allergen messaging. To deal with that fact, these granola bites omit the top eight allergens, and they’re hearty, organic, and delicious. We buy the 24-pack from Costco, which has a mix of both the Chocolate Chip and Mixed Berry flavors. There’s a Chocolate Banana flavor we haven’t tried yet, but I’m on the lookout.
Tillamook Cheese Snacks
There’s at least one package of these snacking cheeses in our fridge at all times; I grab several bags on every Target run. Thanks to Tillamook, I think my kids are half cheese—they eat them after school most days, devour them before sports practices, and grab them for the car when we’re headed somewhere (probably to dinner, because it’s always time for a snack). Colby Jack and Medium Cheddar are their favorites; I’m personally a huge fan of the Smoked Black Pepper when I need a quick protein boost.
Osem Bamba Peanut Butter Puffs
Bamba are not new: These melt-in-your-mouth, four-ingredient puffs have been around since the 1960s. I discovered them early on as a mom when I was introducing peanuts and wanted them to safely self-feed. Since then, they’ve always been a part of our snack routine. It’s like the peanut butter version of a cheese puff, a salty, can’t-stop-eating treat that you can actually feel good about giving your kids.
Martin’s Family Fruit Farm Crispy Apple Chips
Apple chips have always been kinda blah to me, and my kids agree. But then, I found Martin’s Family Fruit Farm. They’re thin and super crisp, and the bag is packed with slices, so it’s a snack that lasts. The Nothin’ But Apple is exactly that—a perfect little apple crisp with no additives–but if you want something more adventurous, the Salted Honey Buzz is the bee’s knees.
Siggi’s Pouches
My 5-year-old just stopped eating yogurt pouches, but up until a few weeks ago, she couldn’t get enough. So many of them on the market are loaded with sugar—but not Siggi’s. Yes, there’s a little (Icelandic skyr can be quite tart on its own, especially for kids), but they’re also naturally sweetened with fruit puree. The Peach Mango flavor holds the No. 1 spot in this house, followed by Mixed Berries. There are also two pouches boosted with protein (11 grams compared to 8 grams). It’s time to graduate to the 5-ounce cups, which boast 15 grams (and lots more flavors).
More to help you through the school year
- 41 A+ school lunch ideas
- Best lunch boxes for kids
- The water bottles that topped our tests
Source: www.bonappetit.com
