I’m trying to cut down on snacks because they so often interfere with mealtime when I do reach for them, but that’s not always realistic. Meals don’t always line-up perfectly and snacks for adults and kiddos is inevitable every now and then. It’s worth highlighting that though snacking every day is common even among early eaters, it’s actually not necessary if kiddos have have adequate portions of a variety of foods.
That said, when you or the kids need a little something to tie you over till dinner and carrot sticks or an apple won’t cut it, here’s a look at a few delicious, better-for-you, ready-made snacks. Note these aren’t healthy the healthiest options will always be real, whole foods, but they’re certainly better than the run-of-the-mill options when in need of something yummy, quick and easy.
Yum, Yum, Yum: Better-For-You Afternoon Snacks
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RAIZE
RAIZE just launched earlier this year and be warned you might eat the entire box of high fiber sandwich cookies... Unlike standard boxed cookies these actually have that "home baked taste" and with only one gram of net carbs they blow competition out of the water in terms of nutrition facts. Even my father loved them (he has no idea they were "healthy" when he helped himself to one).
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Smartsweets
I have a deep love for gummies and I'm currently on a bag-a-day Smartsweets kick... They make high fiber, low sugar alternatives to all the best ones including Cola, Swedish fish and worms.
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Do Anything Foods
Do Anything Foods makes a line of veggie sauces that I'm loving because they're versatile. You can just as well use them on pasta as you can for dipping chips or carrot sticks. They're vegan, dairy-, nut-, and gluten-free and each jar is made with organic, non-GMO vegetables and seeds, fresh roasted garlic and extra virgin olive oil.
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Solely
Solely is another great fruit gummies line. These are vegan and made with nothing but whole organic fruit with a touch of vitamin C. So while they're not loaded in fiber like Smartsweets, if you have trouble digesting high fiber snacks/sugar alcohols this is a great tasting option with a simple ingredient list. No -added sugar, preservatives or gelatins.
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Brazi Bites Pizza Bites
Everyone loves pizza and while you do have to watch out for the saturated fat and sodium levels here, as far as ingredients go for boxed options, Brazi Bites Pizza Bites is good, great-tasting find. Plus the bites give some portion control.
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Balanced Box
If you're looking for a stocked pantry without having to pick and choose, checkout Balanced Box’s Snack and Pantry box selections. Each box is jam-packed with snacks and pantry essentials and you can pick based on preferences (think Keto, Gluten-Free, etc.).
