Can you believe it’s back to school season? It may be 100 degrees outside, but the schools in our area open their doors around the 4th of August. Even though we’d rather be relaxing in the pool or at the beach, we’re pulling out notebooks, folders, and back-to-school snacks. Whether your child is starting Kindergarten or starting college, it’s important to provide snacks kids will enjoy. As a former teacher, I can assure you a lot of lunches are thrown in the trash. This year, we’re sharing some of our favorite goodies for 2019.

Thanks to these companies for partnering with us for our back-to-school snack showcase. However, we only post products that our family enjoys. All opinions are our own.

Back To School Snack Ideas

Bare Snacks– – “Crave Simple.” That’s the Bare Snacks motto. They live up to this promise with their selection of dried fruit and veggie chips. Made from fresh, ripe produce and fruits, these crispy chips are non-GMO and contain no preservatives.

The best thing about them, however, is the flavor. I’m a fan of the Cinnamon Banana Chips, which has a hint of sweetness, a taste of banana, and enough cinnamon to enhance the flavor without being overpowering. Besides banana chips, Bare Snacks have several flavors of apple chips and coconut chips in the fruit lineup.  Pair the fruit chips with a fruit dip or use them as a topping for a yogurt parfait for a twist. The Veggie Chip flavors include  Sea Salt Sweet Potato,  Sea Salt Beet, and Sea Salt Carrot. Not only are these tasty snacks for lunches, but they’re also the perfect snack to keep in a backpack or purse.

Barbara’s–It’s easy to load up on sugary breakfast foods when we’re running late. Then we discovered Barbara’s cereals. The company, founded by a seventeen-year-old, believes in ‘better choices for better breakfasts.’ Their mission is to create a great-tasting cereal with no refined sugar, no hydrogenated oils, and nonGMO ingredients. Need a special diet? No problem. Barbara’s website has a section for special dietary needs including Gluten-free, Vegan, Vegetarian, Kosher, and Low-Sodium.

34 Degrees Sweet Crisps — There is a sweet story behind this product. The name 34 Degrees comes from the location of Sydney, Australia. That’s where the founder, Craig Lieberman, discovered his love for crispbread. His desire for these crackers prompted him to open his own business making six savory varieties of crisps in 2008.   He included a promise to give back in his business venture and donates 1% of all crackers baked in their ovens to Food Bank of the Rockies and Project Angel Heart.

The newest addition to their product line is “Sweet Crisps.” The four varieties, available in lemon, cinnamon, vanilla, and chocolate, are wafer-thin, like a potato chip. Made with coconut oil, these vegetarian cookies can be used as the basis for all sorts of desserts. Crumble them over ice cream, use them to make delicious crusts for pies, cheesecakes, or tarts, or just eat them plain.

Need a quick snack for the kids? Spread a thin layer of peanut butter onto the chocolate crisps and adding slices of banana.  For a more grown-up snack, spread ricotta on a vanilla crisp, top with almonds and blueberries, and drizzle with honey. Bonus– Each serving is only 112 calories!

Country Archer Jerky Co. Original Mini Beef Snacks– These are a favorite of my son, who thinks the beef sticks must be included in the ‘back to college care package’ he receives each year. Not only are these beef sticks good for after-class snacks, but they’re also perfect to take along on hikes and other outdoor adventures.

Made from 100% grass-fed beef, the Mini Beef Sticks contain no preservatives and only real organic ingredients. Bonus– they’re certified gluten-free and a good choice for a Keto snack. I enjoy the mild flavor of these beef sticks as they only have a touch of heat. If you are feeling adventurous, Country Archer has turkey and beef jerky in a variety of flavors and heat levels, from Terrakayi to Siracha. These mini beef sticks are available in a package of 28 and contain only 50 calories per stick.

Mikey’s Breakfast and Lunch Pockets– One of the things my daughter missed most after her celiac diagnosis was breakfast and lunch pockets. She was never much of a breakfast person, as she preferred to sleep until the last minute.  I’d hand her a breakfast pocket on the way out the door. The lunch pockets made easy snacks when we rushed to after school activities. Now, she’s able to indulge her cravings again with Mikey’s.

These allergy-friendly pockets are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, grain-free, and Paleo. The founder, who really is named Mikey, created the pockets because he believes in “great-tasting, clean-eating options for every meal.”

If you have not tried gluten-free products, you’ll find these have a slightly different texture than products made with gluten. They are not as crispy and can stick to the plate. Although, like traditional pockets, they still are ready to eat within a couple of minutes.  They taste good too.

Lunch pockets are available in five flavors; cheese, pepperoni, ham and cheese, sausage and peppers, and cauliflower curry. Breakfast pockets are available in egg and cheese and eggs, ham, and cheese flavors.  Mikey’s also makes English muffins, muffin tops, bread, tortillas, and pizza crusts.

BOS Iced Tea- Here’s another product with a great backstory. Grant Rushmere, the founder, is from Cape Town, South Africa. He envisioned a drink that was healthy and fun. He started with rooibos, a shrub whose leaves are brewed to make an antioxidant-filled tea, and began creating fruit-flavored rooibos tea recipes packaged in beautiful cans. Because “Go BOS” is a South African expression meaning “go crazy, in a fun way,” the brand Go BOS was born.

Not only are these teas low-calorie and caffeine-free, but they’re also filled with electrolytes and antioxidants.  Available in eight flavors, these drinks are fast becoming a favorite in our family. I enjoy the traditional flavors of peach and lemon, while my daughter enjoys the more exotic lime and ginger or the white peach and elderflower.

Angelic Bakehouse Garden Wraps– Sandwich Wraps are a staple at our house. But, flour tortillas are not the healthiest of ingredients. That’s where Angelic Bakehouse delivers with their Garden Wraps. These sprouted 7-grain tortillas are available in five flavors; 7-Grain, Reduced Sodium, Tumeric Sweet Potato, Beet Wraps, and Kale + Spinach Wraps. Perfect for breakfast burritos, enchiladas, or sandwiches.  Hint: Combine the Sweet Potato wrap with Chicken Salad for a delicious light lunch.

For those with food allergies, Angelic Wraps are Dairy-free, Egg-free, Nut-free, Soy-free, and HFCS-Free.  They’re also vegan, kosher, and non-GMO.  How’s that for healthy? Plus, the bright colors make a fun addition to any boxed lunch.

Elmhurst 1925-Milked Oats–  What begins as a sad story offers an exciting new twist for people who suffer from dairy allergies.  In 2015, Henry Schwartz closed the last dairy in New York City. It had been in his family for 90 years.  Two years later, Elmhurst was back on the scene as an innovative force in the plant milk company.  Elmhurst now makes five varieties of plant milk; oat, walnut, cashew, almond, and hazelnut, in both sweetened and unsweetened flavors.

The milked oats are made with 5 ingredients, have no added gums or emulsifiers, and contain twenty grams of whole grains per serving. Best of all, the milk is shelf-stable until opened. We use this at home in coffee or smoothies, but it’s also great for road trips. No more searching for non-dairy products! I store mine in the fridge at all times because I prefer to add chilled oat milk to my smoothies.  Note: Once opened, it should be consumed in 7-10 days. 

This &  That Lunch Kit–  Think creating healthy lunches for your child is impossible? Not anymore, thanks to the This & That Lunch Kit. A family-owned business, This & That is the brainchild of Carine Rosalia, who was struggling to balance her schedule and creating tasty lunches for her daughter.  Her idea? Kid-sized silicone containers that could be packed in advance!

I’ve packed Bare Cinnamon Banana Chips in one of the This & That containers.

These brightly colored containers are dishwasher, oven, and microwave safe.  Plus, they’re collapsible, saving me precious cabinet space. Because food should be fun, the lunch squares set contains an erasable pin. Parents can write a message on top of the container or allow kids to doodle.  Five stickers to place on top of the containers are also included.

Critter loves helping prepare her lunch. This & That makes the job easier! Need recipe ideas? This & That includes a recipe section on their website with dishes designed to tickle kids’ taste buds.

Thanks to our round-up, I’m ready to pack some lunches and send the kids off to school.  Have you tried any of these products? Which were your favorites? What is your child’s favorite back-to-school snack?