Does anyone else feel like summer just started? As much as I love fall, I am not ready for the kids to be gone all day! Yeah, my kids are in college, but I don’t care! I love having them home during the day. Whether you’re ready or not, it’s back to school time!
Healthy Snacks for Back to School
This year, my daughter is going to be student teaching 6th grade students. She recently found out that their lunch period won’t be until 12:40! Even the lead teacher thinks that this is late for 6th grade kids to eat, so they’re planning on letting them have a snack during the day. Molly will be taking a snack too since it will be at least 6 hours between meals.
Picking the right snacks for our kids for either during or after school is important. Kids are picky, so they want something tasty. We want to satisfy their cravings and feed their brains at the same time. I’ve got some great products and easy recipes to share with you that will do both.
Granola Munchkins
This would be a great snack to send to school (check to be sure peanut butter is allowed at your child’s school) or to have ready to enjoy after school.
Ingredients:
3 cups Granola
½ cup of Crazy Richard’s Natural Peanut Butter
½ cup of mini chocolate chips
1/3 cup honey
2 T. chia seeds
2 T. flax seeds
Directions:
• Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl.
• Coat your hands with flour and roll granola into balls.
• Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Crazy Richard’s Peanut Butter
Crazy Richard’s Peanut Butter only uses one ingredient to make their peanut butter: peanuts! And you can tell. It is so good, and your kids will love it. Be sure to read this Crazy Richards Peanut Butter Fact Sheet. It is jam-packed with great information about Crazy Richard’s, peanut allergies, and more. They’ve got a lot of recipes on their website too, so check out this #ClutterFreePB today! Purchase Crazy Richard’s online or use their store locator. Try Crazy Richard’s on these banana pancakes!
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Natierra Products
I love Natierra’s tagline: Superfoods with Soul. They’ve got a “strong commitment to foster social progress and sustainable business through organic and fair trade practices.” You can feel good about giving these to your kids. In 2015, Natierra launched a major philanthropic endeavor; the Feed a Soul Project. The Feed a Soul Project reinforces the brand’s mission to foster social progress and sustainable business practices throughout the world. This project launched three key initiatives; the Andes Back to School Program, Membership in the 1% for the Planet Association, and the Buy One Bag, Feed One Child Initiative.
Natierra sent me their Nature’s All Foods Freeze Dried Strawberries and Freeze Dried Apples as well as their Himalania Greek Yogurt Goji Berries. These make a delicious snack all by themselves. Talk about easy! Did you know that Goji Berries have been used for over 5,000 years in traditional Chinese & Tibetan medicines? Ancient practitioners believed them to help build strength and increase longevity.
You can find Natierra products at one of the stores listed at the bottom of their Feed a Soul Project page.
Try this easy Goji Berry Granola for a yummy school or after school snack:
Ingredients:
2 cups premade or homemade granola
1/2 cup Himalania greek Yogurt Goji Berries
1/4 cup slivered or sliced almonds
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
Directions:
Mix ingredients and store in an airtight container
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Popzup Popcorn & Popcorn Seasonings
Popcorn is a great snack, but depending upon how you make it, it may or may not be a healthy snack. Popzup Popcorn meets standards for the USDA Smart Snacks in Schools. It is made in the USA with popcorn grown sustainably on family farms in Pennsylvania and is non-GMO, gluten free, whole grain, with fiber, vitamin B & protein. The box is a reusable, patented popper and includes everything you need to pop 12 large boxes of popcorn (includes 2 pounds of popcorn kernels) without chemicals, plastic or silicone. You can purchase Popzup online or use their store locator and find it near you.
Watch this video to see how to use Popzup
Pop some up, drizzle it with some extra virgin olive oil, and sprinkle one of Popzup’s Seasonings on top and pack it up for a snack. It’s easy, healthy and delicious.
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ParmCrisps with Gaea Olive Spread
I don’t know if my kids are crazy or what, but they’ve always loved olives! I know black olives are just so fun to put on your fingers and eat them right off….you know you’ve done it! If your kids are olive fans, they will more than likely love this snack. I think this one would be best for after school, since it could be a little messier. The flavored ParmCrisps have a strong flavor, so the Original flavor might be best with this dip.
If they aren’t fans of olives, check out the recipe ideas on ParmCrisps site. They’ve got different spread recipes as well as recipes to use the ParmCrisps in different ways. Of course, they’re great plain too. ParmCrisps are packed with protein, sugar free and gluten free since they’re made from 100% parmesan cheese! You’ll love them. You can find ParmCrisps at the retailers listed on this page.
Gaea olives make a great snack for your olive lovers. They come in a variety of flavors and are 100% natural and delicious. You can purchase Gaea olives online or use the store locator to see if they’re available near you.
Olive Spread Ingredients
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
2.3 oz. package Gaea olives, preferred flavor
1/8 c. finely chopped walnuts
Directions
Chop olives in a food processor or by hand and mix all of the ingredients together until smooth
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Snikiddy’s
Snikiddy Baked Fries are fries you can feel better about giving your kids! They are baked and made from simple, wholesome, real-food ingredients. These Baked Fries have been revamped and now include 70 percent organic ingredients. They are gluten free and non-GMO certified as well. The most important thing (for your kids) is that they taste great! They’re light and airy and taste great!
Snikiddy also makes these yummy cheese puffs! Who doesn’t love cheese puffs? Maybe people who don’t like cheese? But we’ve had that talk before… Cheese puffs that are fun, taste great and are better for your family don’t have to make you feel guilty for enjoying your snacks! These don’t have the preservatives and additives that others may have.
I’ve got a really simple idea for you for those times when you just need grab and go snacks for the kids. Place serving sized portions in airtight containers at the beginning of the week, label them with each child’s name, and put them in the cupboard. This way, they’re not eating the entire bag…believe me, they can. If you’re going to take these in the car, I’d suggest putting a napkin in the container too because they can get a bit messy. Of course, you can always just lick your fingers…
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The New Primal Snack Mates
“You are what you eat. Choose wisely.” Good advice right? That’s why Snack Mates are a great choice for you and your family. The New Primal is making packing your kid’s lunch easy again thanks to its line of Snack Mates snacks. These meat sticks are the first Paleo-friendly meat sticks made just for kids. They’re Gluten-Free, low in sugar. They contain no hormones, refined sugars, soy or dairy. Snack Mates offer the ultimate healthy protein snack for kids on-the-go and are perfect for adding to any child’s lunchbox!
You can find The New Primal Snack Mates and their other products by using their online store locator or on Amazon.
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Slammers SuperFood Snack
Yum, I know my kids (and ME!) would enjoy all of these snacks. I’ll pick some of these up for my children’s lunches!
They’re all really good! I’m sure your kids will enjoy them.
Always important to have some healthy snacks for them to take to school and enjoy. Plus they are always starved soon as they hit the door. Have some ready and waiting.
Kids are always hungry!
Oh man, I was a TOTAL GOLDFISH kind of girl when I was younger and WHITE CHEDDAR POPCORN!!!! These snacks you suggest are FAR healthier than those! ha!
LOL goldfish are just so cheesy, who doesn’t love them! Yes, these are lots better without the fake orange lol.
I don’t think I’ve heard of any of the snacks but most of them my kiddo would love. I’m excited to see what I can find for his back to school snacks from looking at this post.
They’re all really tasty!
I am going to have to look into some of these gluten free options! I am always looking for a great gluten free choice!
There are so many better options for gluten free foods now! Enjoy!
I’d go hungry too with a 12:40 lunch break. It’s just great that you have many healthy snack alternatives here. – Franc
It is crazy how late they make them eat. I’m glad they’re getting a snack in!
What a great round up of healthy snacks, – I would love to try the Granola Munchkins myself, they sound like a lovely treat.
They are really good!
I’m definitely liking the snack choices. Having something like the Granola bites along with a fruity choice like the Greek Yogurt goji berries will be nice.
They’re all tasty!
Sorry I’m still stuck on the lunch at 12:40! That’s so late for littlens I know we’re meant to be teaching children to be tougher however that’s just absurd!
I’ve never heard to Mac and cheese puffs! This is something I’d love to try they look so yummy
I know! They’ll be so crabby if they don’t get to eat!
You’re making me hungry with all of these snacks. I’m most intrigued about the olive snack pack. I’m starting to see them everywhere which is great cause I love them!
They are really good! I like the different flavors.
They all look like great snack ideas. I would finish a bag of those olives in one setting.
It is easy to do lol!
Oh my. What a time to see this post. I am drooling over these snacks and it is way too early to run to the store to get them! I would love to have those Parm Crisps. Sounds delicious to me.
You’ll have to make a run to the store!
It can be so hard to come up with healthy snack ideas that my kids don’t get bored with. Thanks for all the great choices!
You’re welcome!
We love so many of these snacks! The Snikiddy and the parm crisps are two of our favorite snacks!
I could eat the cheddar Snikiddy all day every day!
I make granola balls all the time but never thought to add chia seeds to them. Can’t wait to add them next time!
These turned out great!
The mac and cheese puffs and grilled cheese puffs would be a big hit here. The granola balls look like they have great texture.
Cheese anything is a hit here!
These are all awesome healthy snack ideas! I don’t think I have heard of any of these before but want to find them now.
They’re really good!
These are all great healthy snack options! Thanks for putting this list together, I always try to feed my kids healthy but when I need a quick snack for them sometimes I go for a not so healthy option because it is easy. These are great alternatives!
I love that there are healthy options out there that are easy!
Those granola bites sound so delicious! I love healthy snacks like that – I just have to try them! YUM!!!
They are very good!