Today’s blog post about packing a healthy lunch box has been sponsored by BODYARMOR. All opinions are mine alone.
My oldest child is now a kindergartener. It still hasn’t hit me yet, but she’s been in school two whole days and we are still adjusting.
From different bed times to different wake-ups, this is all new to us. The only thing that’s not foreign territory is packing my daughter’s lunch. I had a week’s worth of practice this past summer for theater camp. So, that makes me a pro, right? ?
If you read this blog, you know I love to cook and my motto is that I like to hold the day down with snacks. As long as my kids have a full belly, everybody is happy.
Here are a few easy, affordable and healthy snack ideas for your child’s lunch box.
Crispy Chickpeas
Crispy Chickpeas are a household favorite. They look and feel similar to corn nuts. The end result is a crunchy, nutty, salty and addicting snack.
This is a great mid-morning treat for your little one because each serving has about 8 grams of protein. The chickpeas will curb the hunger until lunchtime and will also sustain their energy.
Ingredients:
1 15-ounce can of Garbanzo beans (also known as, Chickpeas)
1 tbsp olive oil
2 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon
1/2 tsp sea salt (add more if you’d like)
Instructions:
Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
Rinse and drain the chickpeas.
Dry them as much as possible. The best method is to use a clean dish towel.
Transfer chickpeas to a medium-sized bowl and add the olive oil and the sea salt. Adding more oil will make them crisper.
Scoop the chickpeas onto a baking sheet.
Roast in the oven for about 50 minutes. Be sure to mix them around halfway, that way both sides get crispy.
Let cool before eating.
Cool completely before storing in a bowl. Chickpeas may keep for a few days. That is, if you don’t eat them all first!
Cinnamon Popcorn
Popcorn is always a fun snack and this recipe is a great source of fiber. It’s low in sugar and is super yummy. The coconut oil not only adds a slight sweet flavor, it also serves as a healthy fat replacement to butter.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup of organic popcorn kernels
2 tsp. unrefined coconut oil
1/4 tsp. or more of sea salt
Instructions:
Pop kernels on the stove using a covered pan with 2 tsp. of unrefined coconut oil.
Transfer hot popcorn to a large bowl and sprinkle with cinnamon and salt.
Store in an airtight glass container.
Cheese and Fruit Pretzel Kabobs
The pretzel kabobs have all the yummy nutrients parents are looking for in a quick snack. There’s fiber, minerals and protein. Plus, they’re fun to eat!
Ingredients:
Whole-grain pretzel sticks
Cheese cubes
Grapes (or any fruit your child likes)
Instructions:
Wash your fruit and cut cheese into cubes. (If using a cheese block)
Place one cheese cube on a pretzel stick. Repeat. (For young kids, 3 cheese kabobs is a good amount.)
Place one grape on a pretzel stick. Repeat. (For young kids, 3 grape kabobs is a good amount.)
BodyArmor Natural Sports Drink
And besides having nutritious snacks on hand, if you have an older child that is active in after school sports, you want to be sure they stay properly hydrated, too.
Of course, they should be drinking water and plenty of it if they are running around. But, packing a sports drink in their gym bag is a better option than them heading to the soda machine.
My favorite sports drink is BODYARMOR Natural Sports Drink.
BODYARMOR is loaded with potassium-packed electrolytes, vitamins and coconut water. It’s also the only sports drink on the market that contains nothing artificial.
BODYARMOR comes in a variety of flavors like Mixed Berry, Lemon Lime, Tropical Punch, Strawberry Banana and more.
Like the snack recipes I shared earlier, this drink is also affordable and easy to find.
Right now, BODYARMOR is on sale at Stop & Shop for 4/$5. It’s also available at Target, Shaw’s, CVS, and Season’s Corner Market and can be found in the sports drink section.
- You can find more information about BODYARMOR here.
So, here we are back to school. Just like that. Happy healthy lunch packing!
What easy and healthy snacks do you pack in your children’s lunch boxes?
