We all know for a fact that anything which is homemade will always be healthier than any store-bought snacks which you can purchase from a regular grocery store.
But we also know for a fact, that life does not always happen according to our plans.
You set the oven to pre-heat to bake that scrumptious, healthy snack only to realize that the key ingredient is missing or that early morning muffin baking plan got cancelled because you overslept or the truth is that homemade snacks is just not your jam.
The thing is life happens and like it not, there will be plenty of moments when you just can’t have or do it all. For all those moments and sometimes for any type of moments it is nice to have some good quality, healthy store-bought snacks readily available.
Before you put the regular highly processed snacks in your cart, here are 30 healthier packaged options to choose from.
Also, keep it mind that I have only included the options kids will actually eat. While there are more cleaner and greener and healthier options out there, my kids refused to take more than a single bite, so there is no point in recommending something no matter how good which was never approved by my kids. I know how busy things can be at this time of the year, so I have added Amazon links for you to shop in the comfort of your home.
All the items mentioned are comparatively lower in sugar and higher in nutrition.
1. SNACK BARS & BITES:
KIND BARS are a clear winner in the bar category. There is a variety of flavors to choose from. They also have kids chewy bars which have 25% less sugar than other leading chewy bars. They come in three flavors and all of them are delish.
Have you ever tried Lentil, Pea or Bean Chips? If not, then you are in for a treat. These have a higher level of protein and fiber so it makes them a better grab than the regular potato chips. If you kids love Cheetos, a better alternative is Annie’s Organic Cheddar Cheesy Smile.
If your kids love popcorn, tortilla, and regular chips, good options are Boulder Canyon, Kettle, PopChips, BoomChicka Popcorn, and Late July. We always have popcorn and chips handy for savory times.
3. DAIRY SNACKS:
If you can add an icepack to your kid’s lunchbox than dairy snacks make a good option (if they tolerate dairy). These snacks are filling and are a great source of protein as well as calcium.
You can choose from string cheese, mozzarella cheese sticks, yogurts, single-serving milk, drinkable yogurt and more. Make sure to check for added sugars and fillers.
You can also try the cheese snacks which come in non-perishable packs and while you are these also grab the delish pretzel and Almond Butter Snack Pack by Justin’s.
4. FRUIT AND NUT SNACKS:
Nothing can replace real, fresh fruits but sometimes it is okay for the kids to enjoy. These snacks are made mostly with 100% fruits and for times when fresh is not an option, these are perfect replacements.
Freeze Dried Fruits, Dried Fruits, Applesauce, Fruit Cups, Fruit Bars….all are good options. Make sure that the fruit in the fruit cups is either packed in water or coconut water or 100% juice. The applesauce should only contain apples and no fillers. Also, check the labels on all the items to make sure that the sugar content is not too high.
Another good option is nuts. They are high in protein and are a major brain-boosting superfood. You can buy the individual-sized packs which come in a variety of flavors. Sahale and Emerald has nice nut blends.
5. COOKIES/ GUMMIES/CANDY:
Sweets all the time cannot be healthy, but once every few days as treat totally works. You do not want the kids bounching off the walls, so moderation is the key. This is one category where “Homemade” is better but for days and times when it does not work there are good and cleaner options out there.
Stick with cookies which are smaller in size, because it means that the kids get to enjoy more than two and hey the more, the merrier. We stick with HomeFree, EnjoyLife and Simple Mills brand for cookies. All three are gluten-free.
Yum Earth is my favorite brand when it comes to gummies, lollipops, hard candy, sour candy. They are organic, gluten-free, vegan, Non-GMO and kosher. You can read more about Yum Earth HERE.
