Let’s face it… packing lunches is a tough job! But we’ve got to do it! If you’re looking for quick get-us-out-the-door options that both taste good and are good for our kids’ growing bodies and brains, The Local Moms Network contributor, Registered Dietitian Stefani Sassos, Director of the Good Housekeeping Nutrition Institute shares her go-to’s!
She says a great snack has:
- 300 calories or less per serving
- 10 g of added sugar or less per serving
- 300 mg sodium or less per serving
- Fiber-filled and protein-rich sources
- Free from trans fat and partially hydrogenated oils
- No artificial flavors and food dyes
Stefanie, a toddler mom herself, and her team recently reviewed thousands of snacks to create Good Housekeeping’s list of Top 100 Snacks.
These are her Top 7:
- HIPPEAS Veggie Straws: crunchy and colorful like the originals, but tastier, with yellow peas, tomato, beet, spinach, and kale. They have 3 grams of protein per serving too.
- Sweet Nothings Strawberry Beet Squeezable Smoothie: This little pouch boasts unexpected ingredients like dates and ground chia seeds – with no added sugar.
- YUMI Organic Bar, Blueberry & Purple Carrot: These yummy toddler bars mix fruits and greens on the go! They nail it when it comes to the texture – soft without being overly crumbly.
- Brainiac Apple Cinnamon Brain Squeezers Applesauce: These pouches pack a punch! They’re fortified with as much omega-3 DHA/EPA as a serving of salmon and as much choline as 2 cups of broccoli.
- Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit: Ever seen kiwi with a hairless skin? These are it! Slice it or bite right in. Kids get 100% of their daily vitamin C needs in one fruit.
- Lesser Evil Organic Interstellar Cheddar Space Balls: No neon-orange here! These air-puffed whole-grain corn balls are made with a vegan Cheddar seasoning – and the crunch doesn’t disappoint.
- Solely Organic Mango & Passion Fruit Gummies: Made with just three ingredients, these gummies skip the gross gelatins, gums, and added sugar.
For more, check out the entire Best Snack Awards list from Good Housekeeping!
Need a little more lunch packing support? Check out these articles:
5 Tips for Stress-Free Lunch Packing
5 Lunchbox Tips from Weelicious
Easy School Lunch Ideas That Your Kids Will LOVE
Easy, Healthy Back to School Lunchbox Ideas
This post originally appeared on our parent site, The Local Moms Network