Healthy To-Go Lunches for Little Ones (And 5 Places We Take Them Other Than School)

Healthy To-Go Lunches for Little Ones (And 5 Places We Take Them Other Than School)

Check out my Allergy-Friendly Snacks for Kids or my popular Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free Cornbread!

Occasionally, I’ll get a compliment about how well my kids behave during church. (I also, occasionally, sprint out of the building like it’s on fire, because I’m embarrassed/because it’s been the longest hour of my life.)

When I do get the compliments, though, I always have the same reply… “It’s the lunches…it’s all the lunches!”

I’ve also gotten quite a few orders for these puppies from adults…And, let’s be honest, I’ll sneak a few fistfuls of raisins myself every once in a while…

Here are a few snapshots of our to-go lunches.

I love these lunchboxes by Bento. I ordered a batch a few years ago, and the lids wouldn’t close, but the most recent ones we ordered are perfect. (Actually…my sister ordered them. Thanks, Jenny!)

I never thought I’d be one of those moms who photograph lunches they make…But sometimes, they look so darn cute, I can’t resist.

#1:

• Sunbutter and honey sandwich on wheat bread
• Banana
• Cheerios, raisins, and Enjoy Life chocolate chips
• Fruit Salad (peaches, cantelope, and grapes)
• Wheat Crackers

#2

• Sunbutter and fruit-juice sweetened jelly spread on wheat bread
• Banana
• Plain corn chips (not exactly “healthy,” but at least they only have three ingredients…)
• Hummus and tomato halves
• Berry Salad
• YumEarth Organic Lollipops (I know, I know; it’s sugar…but nothing like a lollipop to keep a kid quiet for at least 2.5 minutes, right?)

#3

• Nitrate-free ham slices
• Banana
• Wheat Crackers
• Trader Joe’s Apple Sticks
• Hummus
• Fruit Salad (peach, plum, and grapes)

Oh, the places we go with these lunches!

My kids are 150% more well-behaved when they are a) occupied and b) full. So am I, come to think of it. Anyway, here’s where we bring these guys:

• Doctor’s offices (I disinfect the chair, the floor, the walls…just about everything first.)
• The Beach – Use the handy trick of baby powder to clean sand off their hands first, and just make them stay seated while eating it. A few of our favorite beach snacks: Applesauce pouches, crackers, raisins, granola bars, carrot sticks, and rolled nitrate-free lunchmeat.
• Church – My kids sit with me in the service usually. They know they don’t get their snack until after the singing and readings, when the sermon starts.
• Parks – bring a blanket to sit on, and some wipes to get rid of those icky park germs!
• The pool – Sometimes I feel like the pool tables are really gross, so I like to throw in these durable placemats my sister-in-law gifted us with!
• The car – Even if they’re not eating a “meal” in the car, I pack the lunchbox full of healthy snack items. They love it!

What other healthy items do you pack in your kids’ lunches? Bonus points if it’s allergy-friendly!

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Original article and pictures take smarttereachday.com site

Healthy Stir Fry – Clean Eating Teriyaki Chicken and Quinoa Recipe

Healthy Stir Fry – Clean Eating Teriyaki Chicken and Quinoa Recipe

1

Quinoa is a great grain for clean eating.

It’s full of nutrition and isn’t harsh on the digestive system. Because of that, it’s also a great choice for gluten-free diet.

Due to quinoa’s light composition, it also absorbs flavors well. And today’s clean eating teriyaki sauce is full of flavor. Add mixed vegetables and chicken slices, this was a scrumptious healthy stir fry.

I hope you like the recipe.

Healthy Stir Fry – Clean Eating Teriyaki Chicken and Quinoa Recipe (makes 2)

Ingredients:

– 2 organic chicken breasts, sliced

– 1 table spoon of rice wine

– 1 tea spoon of tamari soy sauce

– 2 tea spoons of corn starch

– 1 table spoon of vegetable oyster sauce

– 2 table spoons of homemade or organic teriyaki sauce, divided (for homemade teriyaki sauce, click here)

– 1/2 cup of mixed vegetables

– 2 table spoons of extra virgin olive oil, divided

– 2-3 cups of cooked organic quinoa

– 1 pinch of sea salt

– 1 pinch of ground white pepper powder

Directions:

1. In a mixing bowl, add chicken, tamari soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice wine, teriyaki sauce and corn starch. Mix well, and let marinade for at least 1/2 hour.

2. Heat frying pan on high. Add 1 table spoon of olive oil. When oil becomes hot, add chicken, and cook until it’s thoroughly cooked. Set aside.

3. Heat wok on high. Add the other table spoon of olive oil. When oil becomes hot, add mixed vegetables and stir for 1/2 minute.

4. Add cooked quinoa, the other table spoon of teriyaki sauce, sea salt and white pepper powder, and stir rigorously for 1/2 minute. Then let cook and stir occasionally for the next 1/2 min.

5. Reduce heat to medium. Add cooked chicken, and stir for 1/2 minute.

Done. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 2 organic chicken breasts, sliced
• 1 pinch of ground white pepper powder

Instructions

1. In a mixing bowl, add chicken, tamari soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice wine, teriyaki sauce and corn starch. Mix well, and let marinade for at least 1/2 hour.
2. Heat frying pan on high. Add 1 table spoon of olive oil. When oil becomes hot, add chicken, and cook until it's thoroughly cooked. Set aside.
3. Heat wok on high. Add the other table spoon of olive oil. When oil becomes hot, add mixed vegetables and stir for 1/2 minute.
4. Add cooked quinoa, the other table spoon of teriyaki sauce, sea salt and white pepper powder, and stir rigorously for 1/2 minute. Then let cook and stir occasionally for the next 1/2 min.

Thanks for visiting Best Clean Eating Recipes!

Again, hope you enjoyed the recipe. If you wish to save or print it, use the recipe card above.

See you next time!

Original article and pictures take www.bestcleaneatingrecipes.com site

Healthy Soup Recipes for Babies and Toddlers.

Healthy Soup Recipes for Babies and Toddlers.

Two healthy soup recipes for babies and toddlers – these recipes are easy and made from whole foods.

Lately it seems that I am either cooking something or eating something or feeding someone. Which is of course very normal in the life of a mom…especially when you have young children. So I thought I’d share two healthy soup recipes that I make all the time: two simple soups that are healthy and easy to make, and great for older babies and toddlers.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. You should always consult with your pediatrician about your child’s dietary needs. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting solids once a baby is about six months old.

Baby Bee wasn’t really into solid foods until he was about a year old. And he really never has been fond of fruit or sweet things yet, but he loves vegetables and beans. I make these soups about once a week. These work well for babies that are ready for something a little bit more than the starter whole foods: banana, avocado, sweet potato, etc.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Now for the second soup of the day…

Two books that I highly recommend on the subject of healthy food for babies right from the start are Super Baby Food and The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood: Ten Ways to Get Your Family on the Right Nutritional Track (affiliate links). Both are really good if you are interested in the concept of metabolic programming, which is the idea that starting babies off with excellent nutrition will program their bodies to crave healthy food throughout their lives. The lasting effects of metabolic programming include having children that will naturally gravitate towards good foods that make their bodies healthy and feel good, and stay away from the junk foods that make them feel bad. As Dr. Sears says in The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood, “These early good nutritional habits will become so imprinted on their sense of well-being that they are likely to hang on to them for life.”

So that’s what I try to do with the food my children eat, especially in the early years. Yes, now that my first born is older, he has some treats now and then. But he doesn’t give me a hard time about eating vegetables or good food at all. We never do artificial colors or high fructose corn syrup. But even with other treats, there have even been occasions when he has had too much sugar, and even reported to me that he doesn’t feel good. So I believe that metabolic programming works.

I hope you enjoy these healthy soup recipes for babies and children! They are a favorite in our family.

What were your babies and toddlers favorite first foods? Have you tried metabolic programming in your family?

Original article and pictures take i0.wp.com site

Healthy Snacks for Work Day 18

Healthy Snacks for Work Day 18

1. Organic 8-Grain Cereal with Raisins, Walnuts and Honey

healthy snacks for work

2. Banana Slices with All Natural Peanut Butter and Honey Drizzles

healthy snacks for work

3. Mixed Berry Bowl

healthy snacks for work

4. Think Thin Crunch Bars

healthy snacks for work

5. Apple

healthy snacks for work

4. Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt with Honey and Raspberries

It tastes like dessert but better.

healthy snacks for work

5. Fresh Figs

They're the best in the summer!

healthy snacks for work

6. Cucumber and Kiwi Slices

Refreshing and crunchy cucumber meets citrus-y, sweet kiwi. Awesome idea!

healthy snacks for work

7. Banana and Peanut Butter Sandwich with Cinnamon

What a yummy combination!

8. Walnut-Stuffed Medjool Dates

The combination of wholesome walnuts and sweet medjool creates a mouthwatering experience. Plus, they are easy to pack, so you can certainly enjoy them at your desk at work.

9. Toasted Coconut Chips

According to the Coconut Research Center, coconut is a "high functioning food" rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals and can be used in a variety of ways including cooking and medicine. Obviously, the toasted coconut chips below suggest that coconut can also be eaten as snacks. They're delicious, nutritious and perfect as snacks at work.

Tasty, airy popcorn in white cheddar flavor and with only 60 calories per serving. We love healthy snacks like this at work!

Original article and pictures take healthysnacksforwork.blogspot.com site

Healthy Snack Recipes for All Weight Loss Plans

Healthy Snack Recipes for All Weight Loss Plans

The saying "less is more" couldn't be truer for clean eating diet.

In clean eating, healthy snack ideas and recipes use as little ingredients as possible--and all of them are natural and organic. Though the Clean Eating Weight Loss Meal Plan Blog focuses more on weight loss, it also considers healthy lifestyle as priority. Yes, a clean eating diet can help you lose weight--and most likely will--but it's more of a long-term lifestyle change.

No matter what weight loss plans you're on or fitness goals you've set, today's healthy snack recipes can become a part of your better eating.

Incorporating muscle-building protein snacks, heart-friendly cheeses and wholesome grains, these healthy snack ideas are simple, tasty and nutritious. I hope you enjoy them all!

Healthy Snack Recipes for All Weight Loss Plans

1. Cucumber, Hummus and Red Pepper Stack

Made by blending olive oil and garbonzo beans, hummus has a smooth and creamy texture that pairs well with veggies, chips and breads. Because of its rich flavor and abundance in protein and fiber, it's possibly a favorite healthy snack for the clean eating diet. In fact, it's probably a favorite for other weight loss plans and diets as well.

I recommend this snack because it's crunchy, flavorful and presentable--and makes an excellent finger food for party guests!

2. Stuffed Medjool Dates with Soft Cheese and Nuts

If you haven't tried Medjool dates, you're missing out. These fruity treats are plumper and tastier than other types of dates--and are sweet like candy but with natural sugar. Full of carbohydrates that increase energy and fiber that benefits the digestive system, Medjool dates are healthy too.

For this healthy snack recipe, I balanced the dates' sweetness with mild brie. Because both dates and cheese have soft texture, I then added pistachios for a crunchy bite.

If you don't like brie or pistachios, you can try blue cheese, goat cheese or walnuts. I've combined all of them with Medjool in the past--and they all tasted amazing.

3. Gouda and Homemade Cranberry Sauce on Ritz Whole Wheat Cracker

Due to gouda's mild flavor, it's used more as a sandwich condiment than a main ingredient in healthy snack recipes. It's also less popular than other mild cheese--namely swiss. However, gouda's high nutritional value shouldn't be overlooked. According to best-selling health book author and blogger at The Healthy Home Economist, Sarah, gouda cheese is "higher than most liver, grassfed butter, and even pasteurized egg yolks in the critical nutrient vitamin K2."

Vitamin K2 is crucial for preventing aging and bone disease, by the way.

Because of gouda's lack of flavor, for this healthy snack recipe, I topped it with tangy-sweet homemade cranberry sauce. Substituting white sugar with organic brown cane sugar, the sauce was just as sweet but clean. I also used baked whole wheat crackers by Ritz to reduce calories.

The result was a lovely blend of creamy, crunchy and sweet.

4. Smoked Salmon, Goat Cheese and Dry Thyme

I'm a HUGE fan of goat cheese, because goat cheese is gentler on the digestive system. Goat's milk composes of smaller fat globules than cow's milk, and is therefore easier to digest. It's also lower in fat, cholesterol and calories, making it a great cheese for all weight loss plans.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, salmon's always fresh. In fact, the region produces some of the best smoked salmon. Today's healthy snack recipe incorporates smoked salmon from the Pacific Northwest, by stacking each piece with goat cheese and dry thyme.

If you don't mind extra calories and fat, you can use organic cream cheese instead of goat cheese. Regardless, the combination was tasty and flavorful--and I highly recommend it!

5. Baked Zucchini Bite with Garlic, Parmesan and Tomato

This bite-sized snack is loaded with nutrients and flavor. From heart-healthy zucchini to vitamin-rich tomato to anti-flammotory garlic, this is the perfect snack for both body and taste.

Also, the recipe is quick and simple. You can find it here.

Though today's post wasn't a meal plan, I hope it was still helpful for your clean eating diet and weight loss goals.

I also hope that you liked the healthy snack recipes from today.

See you soon.

____________________________________________



HEALTHY WEIGHT LOSS | WEIGHT LOSS HELP PRODUCTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

____________________________________________

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• The fitbit wirstband tracks all-day activities stats like steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, stairs climbed, and minutes you've been active
• It displays your daily stats, time of day, and exercise mode with a bright OLED display
• Also, it monitors your sleep and wakes you with a silent alarm
• All notifications are provided through a wearable wristband
• You can accesses real-time run stats like time, distance, and pace to stay on track
• The stats can be synced wireless and automatically to your computer and over 120 leading smartphones
• Its revolutionary technology is accurate, easy-to-use and most of all, help you lose weight and keep fit
  

Advanced technology; great fitness and weight loss help.

Original article and pictures take cleaneatingmealplan.blogspot.com site

Healthy Snack Bars for Clean Eating Diet (Clean Eating Weight Loss Meal Plan's Recommendations)

Healthy Snack Bars for Clean Eating Diet (Clean Eating Weight Loss Meal Plan's Recommendations)

Healthy Snack Bars for Clean Eating Diet

Clean Eating Weight Loss Meal Plan's Weekly Recommendations

Description:	- Nuts + Honey + Vanilla + Sea Salt + Herbs = SIMPLE! - NO wheat, gluten, dairy, soy, corn and refined sugars - Paleo-friendly, Raw, Organic, Non-GMO, Kosher - High protein, low sodium, low sugar
Ingredients:	Organic Cashews, Organic Almonds, Organic Honey, Organic Unsweetened Coconut, Organic Vanilla, Sea Salt, Organic Cinnamon, Organic Cloves.
Find it at:	Simple Squares Whole Food Snack Bar

Description:	- PREMIUM Paleo- and Primal-friendly nutrition bar that tastes incredible! - Ultra-premium, all-natural, fresh REAL FOOD ingredients from nature. - High-protein and high-fiber, these are perfect for post-workout food, meal replacement or snack. - No gluten, wheat, soy, dairy, or sugar-laden inflammatory source ingredients.
Ingredients:	Organic Cashew Butter, Organic Almond Butter, Premium Organic Rice Protein, Chicory Root Fiber, Raw Organic Walnuts, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Unsweetened Coconut, Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Cocoa, Organic Cacao Nibs, Organic Cinnamon, Premium Sea Salt.
Find it at:	PaleoLife Paleo Bars

Description:	- Exclusive blend of ancient grains: quinoa, amaranth, flax and hemp, offering nutritional balance. - Each bar contains only 160 calories while offering 5 gram of protein! - Certified organic, gluten-free, vegan, kosher and non-GMO verified.
Ingredients:	*Pure ancient grains blend (*quinoa, *crispy brown rice, *amaranth, *flax seed, *hemp seed), *tapioca syrup, *almonds, *walnuts, *chocolate (*cocoa liquor, *cane sugar, *cocoa butter, *cocoa powder), *peanuts, *brown rice protein, *agave nectar, *evaporated cane syurp, *cashew butter, *cocoa nibs, *cocoa powder, *vanilla, sea salt, baking soda, spice (to protect flavor).
Find it at:	Pure Organic Ancient Grains Nut Bar

Description:	- Made from blueberries, cane juice, oats, and wheat flour. - Excellent source of fiber, Vitamin C, and Vitamin B. - Cholesterol free and low fat. - USDA certified organic.
Ingredients:	Blueberry Filling (Organic Cane Juice, Blueberries, Concentrated Fruit Juices [Pineapple, Peach, Pear], Tapioca, Vegetable Glycerin, Natural Flavors, Apple Pectin, Carob Bean Gum, Red Cabbage Extract [For Color]), Organic Wheat Flour, Organic Cane Juice, Organic Expeller Pressed Canola Oil, Organic Oats, Organic Wheat Gluten, Organic Honey, Organic Wheat Bran, Natural Flavors, Nonfat Dry Milk, Cream of Tartar, Baking Soda, Soy Lecithin, Maltodextrin (From Corn), Citrus Oils, Carrageenan, Sea Salt, Annatto and Turmeric (For Color).
Find it at:	Health Valley Organic Multigrain Cereal Bars (Blueberry Cobbler)

Description:	- A healthy alternative to your favorite almond candy or chocolate macaroon, with organic ingredients such as chocolate, coconut and almonds, for a moist, delicious and crunchy treat. - This is currently the #1 Selling USDA Certified Organic Bar; It's gluten free, non-GMO certified, organic and vegan. - Each bar offers 7 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, high traces of Omega-6, minerals and vitamins; - No refined sugars, no trans fats or hydrogenated oils. - One year shelf life from date of manufacture. - Made in New York in product's own Gluten-Free, Kosher, Vegan, Organic facility. - No use of soy protein isolate flour, crisps or beans, wheat, oats, rice or other filler grains, corn syrup (glucose syrup), inulin (chicory root fiber) or animal products.
Ingredients:	All Organic, Natural Ingredients: Cashews, Sunflower Seeds Kernels, Agave Nectar, Dates, Coconut, Cocoa Powder Processed with Alkali, Almonds, Sprouted Flax Seed.
Find it at:	Raw Revolution Organic Live Food Bars

Description:	- Certified organic and kosher; including rolled oats, brown rice flour, and pumpkin seeds; 100% wheat free. - No trans fat and only 90 mgs of sodium; - 2 grams of dietary fiber and 3 grams of protein. - Great-tasting ingredients including wholesome oats, heart-healthy flax seed and pumpkin. - Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging.
Ingredients:	Granola* (rolled oats*, evaporated cane juice*, soy oil*), tapioca syrup*, brown rice flour*, pumpkin seeds* (pumpkin seeds*, salt), invert cane syrup*, flaxseeds*, acacia gum*, soy oil*, evaporated cane juice*, sea salt, spice*, molasses*. *Organic. Contains soy. Produced in a facility that uses dairy, peanuts, and tree nuts.
Find it at:	Nature's Path Organic Granola Bars

Description:	- A cinnamon roll without the roll. - A great combination of nuts, fruit and spices that's sweet and nutty. - A tasty and energetic treat. - Vegan, Wheat Free, Kosher, 100 Percent Organic.
Ingredients:	Organic Agave Certified Gluten-free Organic Oat Groats* Organic Sunflower Seeds Organic Buckwheat Organic Pumpkin Seeds Organic Cranberries Organic Millet Organic Apples Organic Sesame Seeds Organic Flax Seeds Organic Pecans Organic Almonds Organic Cinnamon and Sea Salt
Find it at:	Two Moms In The Raw Organic Cranberry Nut Bar

Description:	"Legend has it that Albert Einstein was eating chocolate when he came upon the theory of relativity. While chocolate may be good for the mind, we know it’s good for the body. In fact, dark chocolate is one of the most potent antioxidants in nature, with a very high ORAC factor is a fancy term for how much a food protects you against free radical damage. It has the same formula as our vegan bar, with the added taste and nutritional power of organic, non-dairy, dark chocolate chips."
Ingredients:	Organic Almond Butter, Organic Dates, Organic Tapioca, Organic Dark Chocolate Chips (Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Chocolate Liquor, Organic Vanilla), Organic Protein Blend (Organic Pea Protein, Organic Pumpkin Protein), Organic Bio Sprouts™ – Flax, Organic Bio Sprouts™ – Quinoa, Organic Sesame Seeds and Lots of Love!
Find it at:	Organic Food Bar (Belgium Chocolate Chip)

Original article and pictures take cleaneatingmealplan.blogspot.com site

Healthy School Treat Ideas when You’re Not Allowed to Make “Homemade”

Healthy School Treat Ideas when You’re Not Allowed to Make “Homemade”

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Many schools don't allow homemade treats due to food allergies. You can still skip the processed junk with these ideas. Healthy food within the rules!

As a former elementary school teacher, anything having to do with kids and healthy food grabs my interest and I get pretty passionate about it.

Over the past few years, more and more schools are moving to a “no homemade” rule for community snacks, birthday treats, and parties. The reason isn’t to support the food processing industry and tie up make-from-scratch cooks with red tape, squashing all healthy food in schools. It’s actually to keep kids with food allergies safe, since an ingredient list is the only foolproof, standardized way to know “what’s in there?”

As much as I know these rules are important, they cause us real foodies to throw our hands up in despair –

Bring food with an ingredient list? Why, that’s just the sort of thing I’m teaching my child to avoid!

We’re not doomed to pretzels and Goldfish crackers, folks. There are real foods with ingredients lists, and better yet, there are plenty of one-ingredient foods that are exempt from needing a list.

As I mentioned in this morning’s “teaching kids how to recognize healthy food” post, fruits and vegetables are something everyone with almost any nutritional philosophy can agree on being healthy, so you’ll notice I lean heavily on those two categories.

Real Food Healthy Kid Snacks (with ingredients)

An asterisk (*) denotes snacks that are singly packaged and can simply be passed out without napkins or splitting up a larger package or cutting anything.

• *cheese sticks
• pre-sliced cheese

nitrate-free lunchmeat, rolled with cheese on site if possible

• pickles with no artificial food coloring?
• *freeze-dried fruit (Costco has single-serve packages, and we get it from Tropical Traditions in a bit larger bags)

Tons of healthy snack ideas for when you can't bring homemade foods to school but have to have an ingredient list

• *raisins (tiny boxes if it has to be individually packaged)
• dried apricots
• dried cranberries
• dates
• dried apples

• prunes
• banana chips (if you can find a brand that is unsweetened or only lightly sweetened and doesn’t taste like cardboard – we tried the ones at Country Life and yikes – cardboard. Zero taste.)

• plain yogurt and something to mix in on site that also has an ingredient list, like berries and honey – be sure to ask permission before assuming that mixing something on site negates the “no homemade rule.”
• cottage cheese (with canned peaches in juice on top, or another fun fruit)

• *natural applesauce (if you can bring your own, here are some fun ways to preserve apples)

Many schools don't allow homemade treats due to food allergies. You can still skip the processed junk with these ideas. Healthy food within the rules!

• *whole apples
• *plums
• grapes
• strawberries and other berries
• pomegranate seeds
• *bananas (although best served cut in half to reduce waste)
• oranges (if you are allowed to cut or peel them)
• *clementines (if you’re not allowed to peel)

any melon or pineapple, if you’re allowed to cut (or buy the pre-cut at the store)

• frozen fruit, thawed only partway, mixed together in a fruit salad
• *baby carrots (sometimes come in pre-packaged baggies)
• mini cucumbers
• cherry or grape tomatoes
• pea pods (in a package via Costco)
• maybe homemade ranch dressing, if you can mix in seasonings to sour cream on site
• otherwise dip veggies in packaged hummus or guacamole – some brands aren’t bad – check labels for weird ingredients (hummus has sesame in it, so you need to know what allergies kids in the class might have)
• celery with cream cheese and raisins for a nut-free “ants on a log” – kids spread the cheese themselves
• frozen peas
• *Stretch Island fruit leather
• Bare Fruit apple chips (or any brand that has real ingredients, like just “apples”)
• *if no nut allergies: Larabars (no sweetener) or KIND bars (sweetened) – although both are hard to swallow because they’re so much less expensive to make homemade…
• if no nut allergies: make trail mix on site (although it’s highly unlikely you could do this, since nut allergies are often the cause of the “no homemade” rule) Use sunflower seeds, dried fruit if that would work better.
• *Oskri coconut bars (although pretty sweet, and stay away from the protein bars)
• *That’s It Fruit bars
• *any popsicle made of 100% fruit and juice with no sweetener, if they’re out there to be found (readers? what brands?)
• salsa and organic tortilla chips (huge bag at Costco)
• some bagged popcorn wouldn’t be too bad – check what fat it’s popped in. Skinny Pop from Costco isn’t too bad. Popcorn isn’t GMO, so you have less to worry about with organic vs. conventional.
• some other crunchy snacks aren’t usually perfect (especially in the industrial vs. traditional fat category) but much better than most: Beanitos, Snapeas, Way Better Snacks. Honest Chips are ideal, but all of these are very pricey to be buying to share.

Readers, help: I’m sure I’m missing plenty! What could be dipped in pizza sauce, for example?

It’s a really hard job to dream up possible packaged snacks, because I hardly buy packaged foods. It’s also difficult because my standards are so high. Whereas many people would have “whole grain crackers” or “whole grain tortillas” on a list of healthy snack options for kids, my filter goes beyond just “it’s 100% whole grain, therefore it’s healthy.”

I also consider the fats (almost always industrial oils and often trans fats in tortillas, crackers and cookies in particular), and the process of extrusion must be taken into account (shaped crackers? No, thank you!). Add to that the perils of gluten for my family in particular, and it’s tricky to sit down with a box of crackers with me.

In my own kids’ school, I’m very, very fortunate – not only do they still allow homemade goodies, but we also just adopted a new policy for birthday parties: The birthday child will bring a book to gift to the class which will have a place of honor for the week. No junky food, no worrying about whose definition of healthy food to use, and no cheap toys filling my house either.

If your school is frustrating you with a “no homemade” policy, maybe you want to bring a totally different idea to the table – with no food in the picture.

What other ideas do you have? I’ll update the list with good recommendations.

Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post to Amazon, Mabel’s Labels and Tropical Traditions from which I will earn some commission if you make a purchase. See my full disclosure statement here.

Original article and pictures take www.kitchenstewardship.com site