As a mom, I’m always looking for healthy snacks that are easy to serve to my toddler. While I buy plenty of whole foods, prepackaged and shelf-stable snacks are more convenient to carry around in the diaper bag and require only minimal preparation to add to my son’s meal.
If you have a kid of any age and are gearing up for going back to school, there are plenty of affordable, healthy options that will add some nutritious value to their diets.
I rounded up some of my favorite healthy snacks, plus some recommended by registered dietitians. Add these to your list during your next grocery run and toss them in your kid’s backpack or lunchbox.
Siete snacks Gluten-free and dairy-free options for kids If your child has any dietary restrictions, like a gluten intolerance or certain food sensitivities, Siete Foods is a great option. The brand was created by Veronica Garza, who was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder and didn’t want to give up flavors and food from her Mexican heritage. As a result, she came up with grain-free Mexican American tortillas, which eventually expanded into snacks. Siete has everything from tortilla chips to almond flour tortillas, potato chips, cookies, puff snacks, grain-free cookies and more. These are made with avocado oil and almond, chickpea, coconut or cassava flours. Registered Dietitian Maura Fowler likes Siete tortilla chips as a carbohydrate source for lunch. “Pair them with salsa or guacamole if using in a packed lunch,” she advises. Some of my favorites include Mexican shortbread, Mexican wedding cookies and tortilla chips. Another plus is that some of the snacks come in mini sizes, so they fit into a lunchbox without taking up a lot of space. See at Target
Amara Smoothie Melts Yogurt drops for toddlers Ideally, you want to keep extra sugars and ingredients minimal in snacks you give toddlers. Amara smoothie melts are made up of organic fruits and vegetables, without added sugars. These yogurt drops easily melt in your toddler’s mouth and come in resealable bags or snack packs. Yogurt melts are good to have on hand during the solids introduction stage and even as babies transition into toddlerhood, when you want a snack that’s mess-free and easy to eat. Some Amara favorites include the strawberry and blueberry breakfast oat melts and their traditional yogurt melts in carrot-raspberry, beets n’ berries and mango-carrot. $30 at Amazon
Cerebelly puree pouches and bars Puree pouches and bars for infants to toddlers Cerebelly snacks were created by a mom and neurosurgeon who wanted to create a food line that included ingredients to support children’s cognitive development. Cerebelly includes fruit pouches made up of organic vegetables and fruits that are free of gluten, nuts and dairy. There are also smart bars that are made up of whole grains and real fruit that are free of added sugars. The fruit pouches are ideal if you're just starting to introduce solids to your baby and want ready-made snacks on hand. The smart bars are made up of different flavors like strawberry-beet and carrot-date. I like that these smart bars are small enough to carry several in your purse or diaper bag, and they’re designed to be held by toddlers. $25 at Amazon $35 at Amazon
Gimme Roasted Seaweed snacks Roasted veggie snacks If your kids like roasted vegetables, the Gimme Roasted Seaweed snacks are a good option for a nutrient-dense snack. Registered Dietitian Lauren Manaker loves these as an option for her daughter for a variety of reasons. She says, “Gimme’s Sea Salt Seaweed snacks have no added sugar, are an excellent source of vitamin B12 and iodine (essential nutrients for energy metabolism) and are made with just three simple ingredients.” Additionally, they provide more fiber than oats. These snacks come in packs that fit easily into lunchboxes or your pantry. Other flavors available by Gimme include teriyaki (my personal favorite), chili lime, olive oil and Korean BBQ. $13 at Amazon
Mush products Overnight oat snacks Mush makes overnight oat products that parents and kids of all ages can enjoy. If you’re trying to get your kids to eat more whole grains, fruits and veggies, then you’ll want to check out Mushkins. Mushkins are oatmeal smoothie pouches targeted toward kids that consist only of fruits, vegetables, rolled oats, almond or coconut milk, depending on the flavor. Flavors include strawberry bananza, apple dreams and chocolaty chocolate. These pouches fit perfectly into lunchboxes of most sizes and should remain refrigerated like the rest of Mush’s products. Older kids will probably enjoy Mush’s protein bars or overnight oat options for a sweet midday or after-school treat. These products have minimal ingredients and are made up of rolled oats, with fruits and dates added for sweetness. Parents may find the protein overnight oats appealing if they’re looking for ways to add protein to their diet without sacrificing flavor. Some of my favorites include peanut butter-chocolate chip and chocolate brownie. See at Target
Clif Zbars Protein bars for active kids The popular Clif bars brand also has soft-baked bars targeted toward children called Clif Zbars. These bars consist of 12 grams of whole grains and are made up of rolled oats with no high-fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. Kids can enjoy flavors like cookies ‘n creme, blueberry muffin and chocolate chip. Fowler recommends these for kids who are active and in sports. “These bars are great for in-between snacks or before a practice,” she says. $13 at Amazon
Kate Farms nutrition shakes Plant-based shakes for kids with food allergies It can be hard to navigate the snack space if you have a child with food allergies. One brand to consider is Kate Farms, which offers plenty of shelf-stable and kid-friendly options that avoid common allergens like milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, peanuts, wheat, soybeans or sesame. Its products are made from organic pea protein. Some options available for kids over the 12 months include the Kids Nutrition shake, which comes in a variety of flavors: vanilla, strawberry and chocolate. These shakes have over 27 vitamins and minerals, 8 grams of pea protein and broccoli, kale, berries and turmeric. If you’re looking for a higher-calorie shake because you want to make sure your child is getting enough calories and nutrients throughout the day, the Pediatric Standard 1.2 is another alternative. This shake is appropriate for children ages 1 through 13, has 12 grams of protein and can be served as a meal replacement or snack. This shake is available in chocolate and vanilla, and similar to the Kids Nutrition shakes, it comes in a carton, which makes it easy to include in a lunch box or in your fridge. $36 at Amazon $25 at Amazon
... continue reading