I don’t know about you, but when my girls were young, I constantly heard the words “I am hungry” and “can I have a snack”. I was always trying to have options available there were on the healthier side and not filled with a lot of junk. This list has obviously evolved over the years when I had to go gluten free and eventually went Paleo.
Finding snacks that are not full of processed ingredients, trans fat, food dye, preservatives, and high fructose corn syrup is challenging. Do your research before you hit the store. Learn to read labels and look for real ingredients to be listed. If you are unsure of an ingredient, chances are it’s artificial. But, don’t be afraid to google it in the store before you buy. When I first had to alter my way of eating, I lived off looking up ingredients and would typically have to look them up even in the store.
Keeping snacks all in one place that is easy for the kids to grab and go is something that I found to be the easiest way. Having bins in the pantry that they knew were snack foods for them and even having a specific place in the refrigerator to keep all of the freshly washed fruits and vegetables that have been prepped and are ready to eat.
- Paleo crackers (these Simple Mills crackers are so good. I love the sea salt, rosemary and sea salt, and Mediterranean herb pita crackers).
- Carrots, Celery, Sliced cucumber, and Bell Pepper Slices
- Fresh Fruit, such as watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, strawberries, cut pineapple, grapes, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and oranges. Let your kids make some fruit kabobs or cut all of your fruit and make a large bowl of fruit salad.
- Apple Slices or sliced banana with these amazing nut butters from Ground Up. I found these and have been addicted to them! Not only are these nut butters so good, but they are made in a dairy free, gluten free, and peanut free facility, PLUS they use coconut sugar! These nut butters are paleo and trust me, they are amazing! Plus, the mission they stand for is truly remarkable. They provide employment opportunities to women who are trying to overcome adversities in their lives and train them in their training program for 6 to 9 months, allowing these women to learn skills and have confidence in order to live a great life. AMAZING!
- Trail Mix– make your own by combining various nuts (peanuts are not paleo so avoid those, all other nuts are fine), dried fruit (make sure to check label for no added sugar) dairy free chocolate chips (the Enjoy Life mega chunks are perfect for this trail mix), pumpkin seeds, and sliced or shredded coconut (make sure to avoid sweetened, that has added sugar).
- Smoothies were always a hit when my girls were young. I would take any leftover smoothies and freeze them in the popsicle molds for a fun snack for my girls. Pour 1 cup of orange juice (no added sugar) in to a blender, add any frozen fruit you like, along with ground flaxseeds and chia seeds.
- Grain Free Tortilla Chips with Salsa or guacamole (or both) is always a winner. Look for salsas with no added junky ingredients.
- Hard Boiled Eggs with a sprinkle of salt and cracked pepper.
- Pistachios or Salted Almonds grab a handful of these for a healthy fat and good nibble.
- Chomps Sticks are a favorite of mine. I keep these on hand for beach day, travel days, or a quick I need a protein right now kind of snack. They even sell little Chomps called Chomplings, perfect for those little hands.
- Dried Fruit is a great way to get a little sweet in you without eating any of those sugar laden snacks. Look for dried fruit with no added sugar.
Each week just before you make your grocery list, sit down and find out what snacks your kids want to have for the upcoming week. These snacks are great for school, after school snacks, or on the way to after school activities and sports.
From my kitchen to yours!
xo, Kristin
