So, I have talked before about and I have given you ideas on . Today I thought I would share a list of some awesome lunchbox snacks. You know, the little extras on the side!
If I could encourage parents to do one thing, it would be to take a little time to make some real food snacks for their children’s lunch boxes. Less packet food and more whole food makes a huge difference to kid’s health.
I would love you to add to the list, so please leave me comments and links!
Okay, let’s go…..
1. Fruit Kebabs. Because everything is more fun when you put it on a stick! Use paddle pop sticks for littlies to avoid accidents with pointy skewers! If your kids are really fussy, some fun shapes might be needed like these from Juneberry-Lane.
2. Popcorn. It’s a wholegrain and surprisingly healthy! Just don’t buy the microwave packets – buy an organic popcorn and pop it in some coconut oil or use a Jazz it up a bit with Herbamare, organic spice mixes or try my .
3. Trail Mix. Have fun with the kids making up your own combos of dried fruit, seeds, coconut and nuts (if allowed). Make them into Quirky Cooking’s . Just make sure the .
4. Apple Snax. Soooo cool! Use a little lemon juice to stop the apple from browning, sandwich together for ease of transport and use seed butters or if your school is no-nuts! Inspired by .
5. Custard. Homemade custard with a healthy sugar and organic ingredients is so much better for your kids than the supermarket variety! Try this dairy-free recipe from Iwa at Additive Free Bites. Yum!
6. Bliss Balls. A powerhouse of nutrition in a single bite (or two)! Check out my post for recipe inpsiration. The are pretty good too!
7. Cheese Puffs. A from Vegie Smugglers for the kids who like savoury stuff. Add in a heap of vegetables and some and the kids are eating super healthy!
8. Crackers. Be wary of store-bought crackers. They are a minefield of canola oil, additives (including msg) and refined salt! We love the recipe – easy to make and nut free!
[box] HOT TIP: If your school has a nut-free policy, try substituting seeds for nuts in recipes. Sunflower seeds make great ‘butter’ and flour![/box]
9. Muffins. Who doesn’t love a muffin? Make sure they are homemade though, to avoid all the nasties! I have for you on the blog to get you started.
10. Yoghurt. Again, homemade is best – make a big batch, add some fresh fruit puree and pop it into reusable containers or squeeze pouches. If you are dairy-free, it’s easy to at home!
11. Apple Slinkies. One of the best inventions ever! Why fruit is more appealing in a slinky shape, I have no clue! But, hey, whatever works! You can get online from Happy Tummies. Lisa says she keeps the core in and skin on and they don’t go brown.
12. Banana Bread. So incredibly tasty, healthy and popular with kids. I have heaps of for some inspiration.
13. Vege Sticks and Dip. Kids like a dip! Choose the veges your kids will eat or cut them into shapes if you need too. Baby qukes, snowpeas and cherry tomatoes are all sweet and tasty. Add a healthy, homemade dip and away you go. You could try my or the Wholefood Mama’s For easy transport, get a special or pop the dip in the bottom of a and fill with veges!
14. Scrolls. So, a scroll is basically a scone dough, rolled out into a rectangle shape, sprinkled with toppings, rolled up, sliced and baked in a hot oven. Adapt the flours and ingredients to suit your needs! Make them savoury with veges, tomato paste and cheese or sweet with or fruits. Try this from Author Rebecca Mugridge.
15. Muesli Bars. Making your own muesli bars at home is so economical and tasty! Try my , , or my
16. Kale Chips. They are all the rage and they are incredibly nutritious. Find out how to make them at my post. My are also pretty good cold if the kids won’t come at anything green.
17. Pikelets. Yum. Try these from the always delicious Veggie Mama. They are gluten-free! Or if you know how to market it right, the are also fantastic!
18. Smoothies. Great for kids who struggle to eat lunch. Pop a smoothie in a small jar or thermos and your kids get a whole lot of nutrients in a drink! Make a or try my
19. Apricot Coconut Slice. A tasty little morsel for kids – the real food version of thehealth food aisle packet snack! It’s a quick, no bake snack you can make in a hurry. is a winner in our house!
[box] HOT TIP! Save yourself a heap of time and energy by making double or triple batches of healthy snacks and freezing them. Pop them in the lunch boxes straight from the freezer.[/box]
20. Cake. Let them eat Seriously. But don’t , make it with whole foods.
21. Roasted Chickpeas. Just soak a packet of organic chickpeas overnight. Rinse well, add some coconut oil or macadamia oil and your choice of seasoning. Roast in a moderate oven for about an hour or until really crispy. Very yummy!
22. Biscuits. There is such a thing as a healthy biscuit! Try the or the for inspiration.
23. Granola. Granola is simply muesli that you whack in the oven with a little honey or maple syrup until it’s nice and crunchy. You can make it with all sorts of yummy things and it makes a great little snack. Check out
24. Boiled Eggs. A perfect snack for little hands! If you want, you can make them into fancy shapes with bento tools or just a !
25. Jazzed Up Dates. Get medjool (fresh) dates or dried dates, spread with nut or seed butter or and then roll in coconut. Make Naughty Naturopath Mum’s (use pepitas if you need no nuts)!
26. Raw Popcorn/Cauliflower Bites. A super healthy snack – cheesey, dehydrated, raw cauliflower pieces from Sarah at The Raw Food Mum. Get the recipe .
27. Apple Thins. A brilliant from Jane at Marinya Cottage Kitchen. Part cracker, part biscuit, all yum. They are free from grain, gluten, egg, dairy, nuts and refined sugar! Win.
28. Mini Fritters. I’ve seen many vege-hating kids happily hoover up a vege fritter! Make them according to your tastes – they are easy to make gluten and dairy free. I love the fun face presentation of . Just press on your veges to make cute faces before you flip them. If you have a thermomix, Taryn shows you how simple and quick they are to make with her recipe.
29. Homemade Banana Chips. These taste like lollies! Sooo good! Just pop a little fruit juice or coconut oil onto banana slices and bake in a low oven or dehydrator until dried out. Store in an air-tight container.
30. Packet Snacks. In a perfect world, homemade snacks are the go! But if you need a packet snack, I have made a list of !
Want more? Check out:
.
