Getting children to eat healthy snacks still remains one of the biggest concerns for mommies around the world. Healthy snacks and meals are important to keep school-going children active and nourished. You can’t always pack some ticky pack biscuits or chips in your children’s lunch every day. Such food choices are unhealthy and have a negative impact on the children’s growth. However, on the other hand, healthy snacks in lunch boxes will not only fill up the tummies of your children but also help them learn and concentrate.
Healthy Snack Ideas to Pack in a School Lunch
Incorporating healthy food choices in your children’s lunch may be harder than you thought. To initiate the process, try making their lunches with their favorite foods, that are rich in protein, vitamins, and carbohydrates. If you’re looking for some healthy snack ideas to pack in your children’s school lunch, we’ve got you! Listed below are our top 10 healthy snack ideas for school lunch.
1. Creamy Hummus
Being one of the healthiest snacks, hummus can effectively be incorporated into a kid’s lunchbox. The smooth and creamy texture is perfect for a dip. Pack some crackers or fresh veggies with it, or make a vegan hummus wrap. When you’re getting late in the morning, it is the most practical lunch snack to pack, as it takes only 5 minutes to blend with chickpeas, olive oil, tahini, garlic, and lemon juice. You can also unleash your creative side by adding some avocado and end up making avocado hummus snacks.
2. Chocolate Granola Bars
The easiest snacks that can fill up a school lunchbox are chewy almond chocolate granola bars. Because of their crunchy structure, they are easy to eat and children won’t be getting their hands smudged with any kind of oils. They are vegan, healthy, and gluten-free snacks. If children get bored with the same flavored bars, you can always try pecan toffee bars and almond butter granola bars. They will fill up your child’s tummy and satisfy his sweet cravings at the same time!
3. Egg Salad Sandwich
What’s a lunchbox without some freshly homemade sandwiches? Nothing. It’s time to fill up your child’s lunchbox with some egg salad sandwiches that will cater to his protein needs. They are a classic lunchbox ingredient and are loaded with mayonnaise, perfectly boiled eggs, green onions, and a touch of dijon mustard. Egg salad sandwiches are not only the healthiest snacks but are also nutrient-rich, providing excellent quality protein and Vitamin D.
4. Banana Bread
Want to fulfill your child’s sweet cravings while maintaining the sugar intake? We’ve got you! Combine some raisins, walnuts, and dried fruits in a bread loaf, and the result will be a sweet moist, and tender loaf of nutty banana bread that is truly magical. When wanting to spice things up, try a lemon loaf with festive yogurt fruitcake, and lemon glaze. It’ll definitely be your kid’s next favorite healthy snack.
5. Garlic Cheddar Biscuits
Everyone, and especially school-going kids love munching on some home-baked biscuits or cookies. To provide your child some healthy lunchtime snacks, fill up his lunchbox with some garlic Cheddar biscuits, that can be prepared in the oven in less than 15 mins. If your kid isn’t a fan of garlic, try some plain homemade biscuits. To not make them seem boring for the child, try serving them with cream cheese and convert them into healthy cheese snacks. When baking at home, you can effectively manage the amounts of sugars, and cheese and not let them cross a ‘healthy’ threshold.
6. Fruit and Yogurt Parfait
For a quick and delicious healthy snack, layer some fresh fruits with crunchy granola and creamy yogurt for school lunch. Fruit and yogurt parfait is a super simple snack and can be made in less than 5 minutes. Your child would be getting all the vitamins, proteins, calcium, and prebiotics from the fresh fruits and yogurt that will protect his teeth and bones. Stats prove that incorporating healthy food choices in the lunchbox of your school-going kid will help him eat clean and also develop his eating patterns accordingly. Resultantly, he’ll prefer healthy snacks over unhealthy ones.
7. Bread Rolls with Green Onion
If you’re looking for some effective ways to incorporate veggies in your child’s lunchbox, soft and fluffy bread rolls are the perfect choice for healthy snacks. They are loaded with green onions and topped with sesame seeds and flaked sea salt. However, they’re not so quick and you may need to spare 1.5 hours to get them perfectly ready. In case your child is a picky eater, you can omit the green onions. These rolls can be served with butter or you can simply make little sandwiches.
8. Veggie Wraps
Let’s be clear! Kids eat will anything but vegetables. But, it doesn’t mean you should give up. To fulfill their daily nutrition needs, pack some veggie wraps in their lunchboxes. Giving off a modern sushi-vibe, these kid-friendly wraps are stuffed with cheese, vegetables, and hummus. To make them easy to eat for smaller children, slice them into smaller rolls. Give them a finishing touch by serving them with a creamy and herbal dressing. They are an easy snack choice and are enough for your kids to assemble themselves during school hours.
9. Salt Crackers
It’s time you fill up your child’s lunchbox with healthy salt and organic crackers that are not overflowing with strong flavors. They have a perfect crunch and the right amount of saltiness. Mostly, they are made with almond flour, to increase the protein and fiber content. They’re not loaded with extra sugar and are made with sunflower oil. Almond salt crackers come in single-serving bags and you can easily toss these healthy snacks in your child’s lunchbox.
10. Oatmeal Cups
Oatmeal cups are a nice and healthier alternative to muffins. Instead of flour, they’re made with perfectly rolled oats. They are one of those healthy oatmeal snack ideas for your kid’s lunchbox. You can also prepare a lot of oatmeal cups beforehand, store them in the fridge and use them for the long term. Top them with seed or nut butter and serve with cheese slices, a fruit pouch, yogurt tube, or some fresh veggies and fruits. This healthy snack will provide your children with carbohydrates, protein, and fibers.
Healthy Snacking – Improved Academics
The lunchbox of your school-going kid is the most underrated part of his life. Try to fill it with healthy and organic snacks, and don’t incorporate oily eatables in his lunch. When a school-going kid will eat healthy snacks and meals for his lunchtime, it’ll not only fill him up but also help in academics. Physically and mentally fit children are more likely to prosper in their school work and extra-curricular activities than those having irregular or unhealthy meals. Henceforth, say YES to the healthy snacking and improved academics.