The bento snack boxes of carrot sticks with hummus or yogurt parfaits you’ve seen on Pinterest are great, but what about the days when you need a snack that can sit unrefrigerated for hours on end, or when you don’t have the energy to prepare something? Whether your kids are hopping from summer camp to sports to enrichment programs, or spending more time playing outside this summer, I’m sure their hunger for snacks is only growing. But after a school year of lunch packing, you deserve a little break, too! Read along for a few of my favorite shelf-friendly snacks that you’ll want to keep in your pantry all year long.
Biena Roasted Chickpea Snacks: Munching on these flavorful and crunchy roasted chickpeas makes for an unexpectedly satisfying snack. They remind me a little of corn nuts (minus the tough exterior), which makes this a perfect snack for children with braces who are missing their usual crunchy snacks. Rotate between sea salt, ranch, barbecue, honey roasted, everything bagel and habanero flavors. Added bonus: Each serving packs in 5 grams of fiber and protein.
MadeGood Granola Minis: These bite-sized granola balls include a few extra nutrients (thanks to vegetable extracts) and are the perfect little bite to tide you over. Whether your kids are sharing their snacks or have food allergies, all of MadeGood’s products are made in a facility free of all common allergens. The granola minis come in a variety of flavors such as cookies and cream, chocolate chip and strawberry, but the banana chocolate chip is my favorite!
Simple Mills Almond Crackers: Pair with sliced cheese, dips and spreads, or enjoy these crackers just as they are. The nut and seed flour blend, comprised of almonds, sunflower and flax seeds, adds a slight toasty, nutty flavor to this crunchy, salty snack that levels up your standard cracker. If and when your family tires of them, try the rosemary and sea salt, sun-dried tomato basil, black pepper or farmhouse cheddar flavors, too. I love getting these crackers in a two-pack at Costco, and I have also seen them sold in an individually wrapped variety.
LesserEvil Popcorn: Popcorn is my favorite snack of all time, so when I discovered LesserEvil, I was hooked. Although I can catch them on sale sometimes, I’ll admit it’s a tad pricier than the average bag of popcorn. The reason I justify it? Their kernels pop up bigger and fluffier than any other variety I’ve tried — and I’ve tried many brands of popcorn! Most plain sea salt popcorns taste a little flat, but LesserEvil’s use of coconut oil adds a slight buttery flavor to the original variety and amplifies the brand’s “Himalayan Gold” butter variety. For kettle corn lovers, try the “Himalayan Sweetness.”
Annie’s Homegrown Bunny Fruit Snacks: Sure, fresh and ripe fruit is bountiful in the summertime, but that doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate some fruit snack gummies, too! The cute little bunny shape of Annie’s snacks makes these gummies even more fun. The individually wrapped snack packs come in strawberry, tropical and berry flavors.
Ranch Sweet Potato Chips: The natural, subtle sweetness of sweet potatoes adds something new to your average potato chip — especially the ranch flavor. I’ve seen the sea salt variety at my local Costco, with ranch, barbecue and jalapeño flavors at my local grocers. Pop open a bag at your next pool day, kids’ playdate or day at the park.
Skout Organic Snack Bar: Sweetened with dates, these bars lend a softer chewiness perfect for younger kids. The smaller size of these bars adds to their toddler-friendly profile, with the extra bonus of making a great it’s-almost-dinnertime bite. The cute cartoons on the packaging and flavors such as apple pie, peanut butter and jelly, French toast and almond cookie make these bars a fun and tasty option.
Emily Ip is an editorial intern at L.A. Parent.
