As a lifestyle blogger, I frequently get to check out food items that are new to the market (and sometimes new to the country). Some have been outstanding and others…well, let’s just say they will be hitting the discount bin FAST.
I am focusing on my top 12 sotre bought lunchbox items today. Yes, I fully understand that prepackaged snacks are generally not as healthy as unprocessed food. Maybe some day I will have time to meticulously cut cute shapes out of cucumber slices and make a bento box out of fresh fruit. Until that day where another 6 hours miraculously appears in my schedule, I am sending this semi-healthy stuff to school with my kid. You’re WELCOME!
Welch’s Fruit Rolls
Do you remember Fruit by the Foot? Welch’s makes a healther version with fruit as the #1 ingredient, natural flavors and colors from natural sources. It is preservative free, gluten free and 100% daily value Vitamin C per serving. Take THAT, haters!!! I discovered this in my Degustabox this month, a subscription box that brings 9-14 full size food products to your doorstep every month for $19.99.
Laughing Cow Cheese Dippers
I am a loyal Laughing Cow wedge consumer, but found it difficult to pack in my kids’ lunches because the packaging made it tough to dip anything in. They recently came out with Cheese Dippers, a pairing of Creamy Swiss with Classic Breadsticks. Super convenient, and my kids adore it.
GoGo squeeZ Yogurt
I don’t know why this didn’t make national headlines, but Go Go squeeZ came out with SHELF STABLE YOGURT. How many times have you tossed yogurt in your kid’s lunch, only to have it migrate away from the ice pack and turn yucky? It comes in 4 flavors- blueberry, strawberry, banana and berry and I found it at Target.
GoGo squeeZ Pumpkin Spice
With PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte) season upon us, it only makes sense to have a Pumpkin Spice GoGo squeeZ. I swiped a sip of Charlotte’s the other day- just as good as you imagine.
Hummustir
If your kids adore hummus like mine (they actually eat it with a spoon), there is now a shelf stable hummus that they can mix themselves. I discovered Hummustir at the National Restaurant Association and presented it on WCIU. The staff dove in after the segment and devoured it. Grab 20% off on Amazon this month by using code FRESH020.
Wholly Guacamole Singles
I mean, who doesn’t love guac? Pair this with pretzels or pita chips and you have a delicious snack. This one is incredibly healthy, with just 6 recognizable ingredients and monounsaturated fat (the good kind of fat).
Figgin’ Fruit
I discovered these little nuggests of deliciousness at a Chicago Woman back to school event. They included a pack in our goodie bag, and my kids devoured them the next day. They are slightly similar to fig newtons, but they are made with whole grains and real fruit, no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
Chiridos
Ok, stay with me here- these are made with cricket flour. Crickets have 2x the protein of beef, 15% more iron than spinach, the same fatty acids found in salmon and more calcium than milk. Edible insects are a sustainable food supply that might just help save the world someday. Until then, the fun factor can be capitalized on for your kids lunch. These air puffed snacks are inspired by chapulines, a traditional Mexican snack.
RXBAR Kids
Many granola and energy bars are just sugar in a package. RXBAR ingredients are actually healthy, containing no added sugar, no dairy, soy, gluten or bad stuff. They are 100% clean and deliver 7g of protein per bar, with flavors like Chocolate Chip and Berry Blast.
Beanitos
“Beans, beans the musical fruit…” We all know THAT song from childhood, right? Well beans are a lean, mean, protein machine and this company transformed them into a cruncy, delicous chip. They also have Mac n’ Cheese Cheeto-like snacks, which I am SO grabbing next time I go to the store.
Freeze Dried Fruit from Trader Joe’s
EVERY time we go down the snack aisle at Trader Joe’s, my daughter grabs the freeze dried strawberries. The freeze drying process preserves the nutrition, flavor and freshness of real fruit. I can’t tell you how many times I have to toss packages of fresh strawberries because they are moldy within a day of purchase. I often add these freeze dried pieces to cereal in the morning!
Trail Mixes from Trader Joe’s
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| Photo: Serious Eats |
I always keep little packets of their Cranberry, Almond and Cranberry mix in my purse at all times. I adore the fact that there are no extra ingredients, and they come in little snack size packs. They have 18 different varieites of trail mix, but just be careful about nut allergies and school rules. Otherwise, snack on!
Cheers to having extra time in the morning to make yourself a much-needed cup of coffee rather than creating intricate flowers from carrot peels!
Disclosure: I receive product samples for review purposes, but all opinions are honest and my own as always.
