Snack Smarter
Let’s be real: Snacks often steal the show (and the fun!) when it comes to mealtime, especially for kids. But it's all too easy to reach for something highly processed and packed with empty calories. In celebration of National Snack Day on March 4, we rounded up some kid-friendly, parent-approved snacks that are both nutritious and delicious.
Packed with plant-based protein (12% of your daily value per serving) and all nine essential amino acids, pistachios are nut your average snack. Satisfyingly crunchy, undeniably delicious, and full of flavor, they’re available in-shell (because working for your food makes it that much sweeter—and more fun!) or out and come in an array of flavors like honey roasted, sea salt & vinegar, and chili roasted. Wonderful Pistachios are indeed wonderful in every way.
When it comes to fruit snacks, the ingredient list can sometimes feel like a chemistry experiment—long, complicated, and more "chemically" than "clean." Enter BEAR. Their Fruit Rolls are a peel of perfection, made with just four ingredients (yep, real fruit) and zero added sugar or juice concentrate. Cue the trumpets! Kids go wild for the fun packaging (each roll comes with a colorful collectible card!), while grown-ups love the grab-and-go convenience and guilt-free nutrition.
Life’s gouda when Moon Cheese is in your pantry! Packed with 100% real cheese, these crunchy, crouton-like bites are the ultimate snack upgrade. From classic flavors like Cheddar Believe It and Garlickin’ Parmesan to bold hits like Sweet Cosmic Chili and Out of This World Pizza, each piece is guilt-free, gluten-free, and loaded with protein to fuel your day. Whether you're munching between meetings or need a late-night crunch, Moon Cheese is your passport to snack-time greatness.
Granola bar? Energy bar? Nah, it’s a Tosi bar—and trust me, it’s above-par! Available in various flavors like Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate, Cashew Coconut, and Almond Blueberry, each crunchy bite is gluten-free, grain-free, and dairy-free. Not too salty, not too sweet, expect the perfect balance of wholefood and wholesome goodness. Made with organic nuts (think cashews, almonds, and peanuts), nutrient-packed seeds (chia, flax, and sesame), and refined-sugar-free sweetener (coconut blossom nectar), Tosi bars are the perfect grab-and-go fuel for both kids and adults alike.
Brimming with vitamin C and natural sweetness, Wonderful Halos Mandarins are the perfect, easy-to-peel pick-me-up morning, noon, or night (talk about a tasty before-bedtime treat!) and are the ideal, guilt-free addition to a lunchbox or gym bag. Don’t let their petite size fool you, either; these smooth-skinned, seedless beauties pack a mighty punch, with ample potassium, magnesium, copper, and iron. Small in stature, big on benefits—Halo there, health!
By Megan Wiskus
Photos courtesy of their respective companies.