Can you believe summer is almost over?! We love that fall always marks the beginning of a new school year, because it’s a great time to reset.
We’ve got you covered with healthy school snack ideas that are parent and kid approved! Whole Foods Market can help to ease the transition from a schedule-free summer to the frenzy of fall by offering a variety of packaged foods & convenient meal solutions—with nutrition & organics in mind.
We’ve rounded up our favourite grab & go snack options with school safety and common allergies in mind. We know you’ll find some new favourites to add to your rotation – and they’re all available at Whole Foods Market stores across Metro Vancouver.
OUR FAVOURITE HEALTHY
BACK TO SCHOOL SNACKS
BEANFIELDS
BEAN & RICE CHIPS
Ingredient Highlights:
Vegan, certified gluten-free, kosher, and Non-GMO Project Verified. All chips are made without corn or any of the top 8 food allergens.
Why They’re Awesome:
You get all the crunch you want but none of the stuff you don’t! With 7 different flavours, kids will never get bored. And we love that one serving of chips gives kids 5 grams of protein and 6 grams of fibre.
ORGANIC MEADOW
CHEESE STICKS
Ingredient Highlights:
Contains only organic pasteurized whole milk (for cheddar) & partially skimmed milk (for mozzarella), sea salt, microbial enzyme, and bacterial culture.
Why They’re Awesome:
Since 1989, Organic Meadow has produced organic milk at its best and is proud to offer a full line of organic dairy products. These delicious & nutritious cheese sticks are perfect for kids’ lunch boxes!
FREEYUMM
BARS & COOKIES
Ingredient Highlights:
Free of the top 8 food allergens, sesame and sulphites. Organic and non-GMO ingredients are used where possible.
Why They’re Awesome:
These bars & cookies are delicious, nutritious and full of natural ingredients. And they have a wide range of fruity, chocolately and just plain yummy flavours!
365 EVERY DAY VALUE
HONEY GRAHAM COOKIES
Ingredient Highlights:
USDA Certified Organic, Certified Kosher, and Non-GMO Project Verified. No high fructose corn syrup!
Why They’re Awesome:
These cute, bear-shaped mini cookies are easy to add to a lunch box without all of junk found in other cookies! Win-win for kids & parents.
365 EVERY DAY VALUE
ORGANIC
MORNING O’S
Ingredient Highlights:
USDA Certified Organic, Certified Kosher, Non-GMO Project Verified, low sodium & no high fructose corn syrup!
Why They’re Awesome:
This organic whole grain oat & rice flour cereal is lightly sweetened with organic cane sugar. Easy for little hands to manage and perfect for preschool lunch boxes.
365 EVERY DAY VALUE
ORGANIC
RICE CRACKERS
Ingredient Highlights:
Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Kosher, vegetarian, low fat and no sugar added.
Why They’re Awesome:
We love that these are made with simple ingredients like rice flour, sesame seeds, sesame flour, expeller pressed safflower oil and salt. They’re light & crispy and oh so good!
KIJU ORGANIC
JUICES
Ingredient Highlights:
Certified organic, no added sugar, no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, non-GMO project verified, vegan, and gluten-free.
Why They’re Awesome:
6 great juice box flavours that are grown and pressed naturally – what’s not to love? Drink in the 100% juice that’s 100% delicious. These juice boxes are great for grab and go or sit and sip (and be sure to recycle them afterwards!).
MADEGOOD
GRANOLA MINIS
Ingredient Highlights:
Organic, gluten-free, Non-GMO Project Verified, and free from corn and top 8 allergens.
Why They’re Awesome:
Rich dark chocolate and ripe bananas – yum! These granola minis come in five varieties, taste just like dessert and contain the nutrients found in one full serving of vegetables and more than a serving of fun! They are wholesome and delicious for on the go families.
LOVE CHILD ORGANICS
LOVE DUCKS
Ingredient Highlights:
Vegetarian, organic, non-GMO, and nut free.
Why They’re Awesome:
Cute-as-a-duckling organic puff snacks are made from non-GMO corn flour, rice flour, sunflower oil, and dehydrated fruits and vegetables – and nothing else! They’re so yummy and fun to eat, your kids won’t miss the sugar or salt. An ideal snack for babies or older kids. Quack, quack, quack.
FORTE WHOLE FOODS
SPREADS
Ingredient Highlights:
Nut free, vegan, high fruit content, low sugar, low calorie, low fat, no artificial flavouring.
Why They’re Awesome:
Dip, scoop, frost or spread these amazing natural spreads – such a hit for satisfying a sweet tooth with only real fruit and coconut sugar. We love that Forte spreads have 75%-130% more fruit than jams, have none of the top 8 allergens (yey school safe!) and come in 6 fun flavours, including chocolate date, chocolate espresso and blueberry date. Yum!
ENVIROKIDZ
GRANOLA & RICE BARS
Ingredient Highlights:
Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, vegetarian, gluten-free, and peanut-free options are available.
Why They’re Awesome:
Whether you choose crunchy granola or crispy rice, all of these convenient snack bars are bursting with nutrients and flavour! Berry Blast crispy rice bars are a big hit with our kids, offering the wholesome goodness of brown rice studded with freeze-dried blueberries and intense red raspberries.
MANITOBA HARVEST
HEMP HEART BITES
Ingredient Highlights:
Non-GMO Project Verified, vegan, kosher and organic.
Why They’re Awesome:
You will ‘heart’ these hemp heart bites in original, chocolate and cinnamon flavours made with the goodness of hemp, organic sweeteners, and a touch of sea salt. They are rich in protein and have all 10 essential amino acids – the perfect addition to any lunch box!
WISEBITES
COOKIES & MORE!
Ingredient Highlights:
Free of the top 11 allergens (including gluten, tree nuts, peanuts, dairy, eggs & soy), vegan, NON-GMO, Kosher, no added artificial sweeteners, sulphites, preservatives, fillers or colourings.
Why They’re Awesome:
With their extensive line of allergen-free cookies, cookie bars, muffins & packaged goods (like dairy free chocolate chips), Wise Bites offers healthy eating on the go made easy for busy families! And with flavours like Oat & Quinoa Fudge and Oat & Quinoa Chocolate Chip, your kids will never have to know how good they are for them.
SEASNAX
SEAWEED PACKS
Ingredient Highlights:
Non-GMO Project Verified, vegan, gluten free, organic, and no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
Why They’re Awesome:
These sustainably-grown organic seaweed snacks are made with 100% organic extra virgin olive oil and just a pinch of sea salt, and they’re full of nutrients and minerals. We love that they come in full sheets, family-size packages, and small convenient packs to throw in a lunch box, and come in a variety of flavours to appeal to a wide range of kids (Classic Olive, Toasty Onion, Chipotle, Wasabi and RAW).
SUNBUTTER
SUNFLOWER BUTTER
Ingredient Highlights:
Non-GMO and free of top 8 allergens.
Why They’re Awesome:
SunButter is a natural, simple, and delicious sunflower butter that’s great for kids sandwiches or using as a spread/dip with fruits, veggies & crackers. Made from roasted US grown sunflower seeds, SunButter has 7g of protein per serving and more vitamins and minerals than nut butter.
MCLEAN MEATS
PEPPERONI SNACKS
Ingredient Highlights:
Free of gluten, nitrites, antibiotics, dairy, soy or added preservatives.
Why They’re Awesome:
These high protein snacks made from Humane Certified Pork keep kids fuller longer and fueled for their days of learning. They don’t need to be refrigerated so you can stuff them in a backpack or a lunch kit and not worry!
HIPPIE SNACKS
COCONUT CLUSTERS
Ingredient Highlights:
Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, no artificial ingredients and nothing extruded.
Why They’re Awesome:
Made with organic coconut, seeds and spices – simple ingredients that appeal to the most discerning palates – your kids! It’s a better-for-you snack that offers the perfect mix of sweet and savoury.
Wondering what to do with the kids in Metro Vancouver this weekend, or what to make for dinner? You can find it at HealthyFamilyLiving.com! From the Sunshine Coast to the Fraser Valley, we’re the best online resource for busy parents looking for practical tips for healthy, active, sustainable living. For the latest on family events, outdoor adventures, birthday parties, camps & classes and kid-approved recipes, follow us on Facebook and sign-up for our parent-approved e-newsletter!
