Guilt-Free Packaged Snacks for Kids
Sources:
Rains, Amy, “Healthy Store-Bought Snacks for Kids”,
Wholesomelicious, http://www.wholesomelicious.
com/healthy-store-bought-snacks-for-kids/
“Healthy Packaged Snacks & Sides for the Lunchbox”,
Parents.com, https://www.parents.com/recipes/nutri-
tion/healthy-packaged-snacks-sides-for-the-lunchbox/
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Snack Mates
If your kids are beef stick lovers, then
this is a great snack for them. Snack
Mates are antibiotic and hormone free.
They’re on the pricier side, selling at
around forty dollars for forty sticks, but
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GoGo Squeez Applesauce
Fruit and Veggies
This fun, squeezable applesauce is a hit
with kids and they’ve come out with a
new line of combos that sneak veggies
in too. They have fl avors like apple,
grape and berry, which all have a hidden
veggie, like sweet potato, carrot, or
butternut squash. Kids don’t even notice
the veggies in it!
If your kids are especially picky
eaters, you may have to go through
some trial and error before you find
the right snacks for them. Thankfully,
what’s great about many healthy snacks
these days are that they’re disguised as
normal treats while sneaking in fruits
and vegetables that children barely
notice. If you keep an eye out for snacks
with the good ingredient, high nutrient
combo, you’re sure to find something
that’s the perfect fit for your kids.
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Go Organically/Annie’s Fruit Snacks
What kid doesn’t love fruit snacks? Both
Go Organically and Annie’s fruit snacks
are made with real fruit and don’t come
with all of the extra sugar, artifi cial
fl avors and food dyes of normal fruit
snacks. Both are about thirteen dollars
for 42 bags, making them affordable
as well.
Ruby Rockets Veggie and Fruit Pops
Available in many delicious fruit fl avors,
Ruby Rockets are one of the only pop-
sicles that don’t have any added sugars.
They also have hidden veggie purees,
ranging from organic beets to sweet po-
tatoes, so that your kids are getting more
nutrients than the average popsicle treat.
RX Bar
These are great snacks for adults and
kids alike. They’re high in protein and
healthy fats and have a high overall
Off The Eaten Path Veggie Crisps
These veggie crisps combine rice, peas,
and black beans into a yummy blend
of fi ber and protein. They have a great
texture and crunch that kids will love.
These can be a bit on the pricier side,
but the high nutrient content makes
them worth it.
Smartfood Delight Sea Salt Popcorn
This popcorn has only three ingredients:
popcorn, oil, and sea salt. Even though
it’s air popped, it still has a lot of fl avor.
This is a great, high fi ber, low calorie
snack for kids ages four and up.
Lara Bar Minis
These closely resemble homemade
energy bites with only a few ingredients
in them. They also come in small snack
sized packages to help with portion
control and they are in a cheaper price
range than a lot of other healthy snacks.
Harvest Snaps
Not only do these come in a variety of
tasty fl avors, but they pack a lot of pro-
tein and fi ber into a really small serving.
They’re also really affordable.
the ingredients are clean and approved,
unlike the cheaper brands.
Enjoy Life Chewy Bars
These bars are great for kids who have
food allergies or sensitivities. They are
free of gluten, nuts, soy, dairy, and eggs.
They’re a bit high in the sugar depart-
ment, but loaded with healthy fats.
nutrient density. They come in a variety
of tasty kids fl avors, the most popular of
which is the chocolate. The only down
side is that the price can be a bit steep,
so keep an eye out for sales and deals.
I
n today’s hectic modern world, we
might not always have the time to
prepare healthy homemade snacks for
our kids. When you’re on the go all day,
packaged snacks can be a lifesaver. The
problem is fi nding ones that aren’t fi lled
with junk. Thankfully, there are a variety
of healthy packaged snacks out there if
you know what to look for:
Typically, the less processed the snack
is, the better it is for your little one.
The easiest way to tell is by looking at
the ingredient list. Unhealthy snacks
will be loaded with artificial flavorings,
colorings, and preservatives you can
scarcely pronounce, while healthier
snacks tend to have a shorter list with
quality ingredients. Another way to tell
is to keep an eye out for snacks that
are high in some type of nutrient, like
protein, fiber, healthy fats, and vitamins
B and C. Also pay attention to how
much sugar the snacks have in them.
Whether you need them for the car
ride to soccer practice, for a trip in the
stroller, or to toss in a lunchbox, here
are some of the packaged snacks you
can give to your kids guilt-free:
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