Published in the New York Family Magazine on April 7, 2020
Staying at home all day is difficult enough with the kids, but refusing some chips or a bite of a favorite dessert with my always-hungry son is nearly impossible! It doesn’t have to be though with these healthier snacks that you can keep handy in your house. The most important thing is to choose snacks that can help you and your kids power through the day and limit your cravings for unhealthy foods. Check out our list of family-friendly treats and snacks made from natural ingredients.
Trader Joe’s Sun Dried Apricots Trio Pack
This sealed trio pack of Sun Dried Apricots is a great snack to throw in your purse, backpack or really whatever bag. It makes for an easy way to get some nutrients and they are also mess-free. You can find this snack with the dried fruits and nuts at Trader Joe’s. To find your nearby Trader Joe’s, take a look at our post on the ins and outs of all the NYC stores.
Tortilla Chips Seasoned With Brussels Sprouts, Garlic, Onion & Parsley
Kids may wrinkle their noses and say “ewww” when they hear that these tortilla chips are brussels sprout flavored. Well, they are in for a surprise and will be blown away with fantastic flavor. These chips are absolutely delicious, made with white corn and rice flour, potato flakes, and freeze-dried brussels sprouts. They are cut into triangle pieces, baked, and tossed into an array of spices that fully complete the chip — perfect for packing into a lunch for a little crisp treat! To find your nearby Trader Joe’s, take a look at our post on the ins and outs of all the NYC stores.
This peanut snack is definitely a TJ’s fan favorite. These snacks are light, crunchy, and are bursting with peanut flavor. Finding this popular Israeli snack is not easy to come by, but Trader Joe’s makes it happen! These delicious, peanut-like snacks are packed with flavor but are made with just four simple ingredients: corn grits, peanut paste, palm oil, and salt. You can find these in the snacks aisle of Trader Joe’s at 99 cents a bag! To find your nearby Trader Joe’s, take a look at our post on the ins and outs of all the NYC stores.
LesserEvil Organic Popcorn “No Cheese” Cheesiness
Next time you are thinking about popcorn, you have to try LesserEvil’s LesserEvil’s “No Cheese” Cheesiness. This organic, vegan popcorn makes a great alternative to other cheese-flavored popcorn. Not only is it healthier and a good source of fiber, but it also has a unique and tasty flavor, with a hint of coconut from the coconut oil that it ‘sit’s popped in. This snack is a family favorite and a must for the kitchen pantry. Order from their website in cases of five, 12 and 25, or click on their store locator feature to find a nearby location where you can grab a bag or two.
Rip Van Wafels Snickerdoodle Mini Stroopwafels
This delicious snack is made with all-natural ingredients– no artificial colors or flavors, preservatives, trans fat, soy, or high fructose corn syrup. Each box contains 32 individually wrapped mini Stroopwafels perfect for your children’s lunch box or a quick snack at home.
The packaging pretty much sums up this sweet, slightly tart, delicious snack — it’s Just Mango Slices! Although having a refreshing slice of mango is surely appetizing, these easy-to-pack, dried slices do the job just as well. Skip the mango peeling and stickiness, and pack a few of these no added sugar golden slices into your kid’s lunches — a win-win for both parents and children!
You may have seen these at your grocery stores if you have made your way down the snack aisle. If you have, make sure to grab a bag of these chips because these are a snack game-changer. PopCorners bring corn chips to a whole new level. A personal favorite is their kettle corn flavor that is made with sunflower oil, cane sugar and just a pinch of salt. These crispy snacks are gluten-free, vegan, nut-free and dairy-free. Order from their website in cases of 12 and 40. Alternatively, you can use their store locator feature to find a nearby location where you can purchase these snacks.
Strawberry Freeze-Dried Fruit Crisps
This all-natural fruity snack is free from artificial preservatives, flavors, sweeteners, and colors. Solely made from strawberries, these free-dried fruit crisps go great with your morning yogourt or in a fruity cake.
LesserEvil Egg White Curls Huevos Rancheros
Who would’ve known that a breakfast favorite could be made into a snack? These paleo puffs are made from American Humane certified egg whites, avocado oil and have a slight kick of spice with each bite. They make an excellent option for your snack drawer at work or you can pack a bag for your kids’ lunches. Order from their website in a case of six, or click on their store locator feature to find a nearby location where you can grab a bag.
Kind® Minis – Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt and Caramel Almond & Sea Salt
You can say that these Kind® bars are a one-of-a-kind! Pick up a 10-pack box of miniature Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt and Caramel Almond & Sea Salt bars that are soft-textured and chewy — YUM! These 100-calorie, bite-size bars are perfect for a quick bite in between classes and to hand out at those soccer games for a fast refuel. Aside from their slightly salty and sweet taste, these small bars are tiny but mighty with only 3 grams of sugar, along with being gluten-free and kosher!
Looking for a way to incorporate more protein into your family’s diet? Protein Bites are absolutely perfect for that with a chocolatey, truffle-like bite. These Bites are not only packed with 6 grams of protein, but they are also loaded with great flavor from sunflower seed butter and dairy-free chocolate. Order online or use their store locator.
Bare Baked Crunchy Fuji and Reds
Now that we are heading into the fall season, these Bare Baked Crunchy Fuji and Reds make the perfect seasonal snack. You get the sweet apple taste paired with the crisp and crunch of the chip. And parents, the best part about this ingredient list is that it’s just apple — that’s it! They make a great source of fiber and there is no sugar added. You can buy these guys on amazon or locate a store near you.
Trader Joe’s Roasted Seaweed with Sea Salt
Already packaged and ready to go, these seaweed snacks are light, crispy and a TJ’s favorite. Have a little snack from the deep blue sea and enjoy these thin but savory snacks. They come in packages of six and are absolutely perfect for school lunches. If you are looking to get a little creative with these Seaweed Snacks, use them as “wraps” for rice, smoked salmon, or even cream cheese!
These two 4 ounce trays of Mediterranean hummus with Pita chips go perfectly in your kid’s lunchboxes. These make excellent healthy snacks that are individually sealed for your convenience. Don’t hesitate to pick up one of these at TJ’s and scoop up that garbanzo goodness.
Gold Emblem Abound provides you with a great variety of healthy bite-sized snacks, but my personal favorite is the mini Quinoa and Rice snack. These tiny and delicious cakes have 12 grams of whole grains per serving. The blend of nutritious rice and the superfood quinoa is free of any artificial coloring, sweeteners, and flavors. All bites are gluten-free and available in different natural flavors.
HIPPEAS crunchy puffs are full of great taste and delicious, high-quality ingredients. These puffs are available in five flavors: Vegan White Cheddar, Nacho Vibes, Bohemian Barbecue, Sriracha Sunshine, and Himalayan Happiness. Organic Chickpea Puffs are USDA Certified Organic, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Non-GMO, and Kosher.
Cocoa baked right into each almond for a sweet chocolate taste with only 1g of added sugar. With no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors, these nuts provide you with 4g of protein in each pack.
Farms Dry Roasted Edamame is perfect for any plant-based diet. Edamame is naturally gluten-free, low in calories, and an excellent source of protein, iron, and calcium. These delicious beans are non-GMO product that combines just 2 ingredients: soybeans and sea salt. Utterly harmless for children and adults.
Gluten-Free Multi-Seed Crackers
ALDI’s line of liveGfree offers gluten-free products compatible with any healthy diet at an affordable price. Their rosemary and olive-oil multi-seed crackers are tasty and wholesome snacks for the whole family.
Only real vegetables! This Kosher snack contains 0mg of cholesterol and 0g of trans fat and no artificial flavors or artificial preservatives.
