8 Healthy Snacks for Lunch Boxes

When packing a child’s lunch, the main entrée gets a lot of attention, but sometimes we forget that packing a healthy snack is just as important.

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I don’t know about yours, but my children always seem to pay more attention to what comes WITH their sandwich!

With that in mind, I want to share some great ideas for Healthy Snacks for Lunch Boxes that I’ve discovered. Cinnamon caramel energy bites, pear chips and homemade fruit leather or granola bars are satisfyingly sweet without being full of sugar.

Crunchy roasted chickpeas, parmesan garlic zucchini chips and homemade goldfish crackers are savory tastes that serve as healthy alternatives for traditional chips. Filled butterfly snack bags can hold any healthy snack.

The kids will definitely be happy eating healthier when you include these lunch box snacks!

See Also

• Let them play with their food! The Strawberry Octopus snack idea is perfect for a fun after school treat! 
• Pack their lunches with these Healthy Lunch Ideas to give them the fuel they will need to last the day. 

1. Cinnamon Caramel Energy Bites

From The Melrose Family

Cinnamon Caramel Energy Bites are a sweet treat to add to your child’s lunch box that will give them the boost of energy that they need to make it through the rest of the school day. They taste just like a homemade cookie, but they are made of mostly healthy ingredients that you can feel good about. Pitted dates, dried apples, oats, and a dash of cinnamon make for a deliciously healthy flavor combination.

2. Crunchy Roasted Chickpeas

From Diabetic Living Online

A great substitute for traditional chips, these crunchy roasted chickpeas are full of flavor and the perfect amount of crunch that your kids are sure to love. Drained and rinsed garbanzo beans are tossed with a splash of olive oil and a dash of salt, then baked in the oven until nice and crisp. They are perfect to try for a fiber-packed snack and super easy to pack for lunches and car rides.

3. Butterfly Snack Bags

From Menu Musings

If you want to add a little touch of cuteness to your child’s lunch box these butterfly snack bags are the perfect thing! Classic string cheese topped with a googly eyed clothespin makes up the body of the butterfly, and a pinched sandwich bag creates the perfect wings! Swap out different fruits, veggies, and other healthy snacks that your kids love to make them totally customizable.

4. Pear Chips with Cinnamon

From Frugal Living Mom

Another great alternative for traditional chips, these crispy little pear chips are super sweet and all natural. It’s always nice to have chips around the house that you can eat without feeling guilty at all! These are basically just dried pears, sliced very thinly on a trusty mandolin, then sprinkled with a little bit of cinnamon. Both pears and cinnamon have amazing health benefits and taste great, too.

5. Homemade Fruit Leather

From Weelicious

Kids love fruit roll ups and other fruit leather snacks – at least my kids do! Unfortunately, the store-bought versions are full of preservatives and who knows what else. That means making them at home is a great option. With just a few cups of fresh strawberries and a tablespoon of a natural sweetener like honey or agave, you can easily make them yourself. Plus, it can easily be stored at room temperature for a few months.

6. Homemade Goldfish Crackers

From Foodista

Have you ever dreamed of making your own classic snacks from scratch? Well today is your lucky day! The light crunch, adorable shape, and notably non-fried makeup of Goldfish crackers have been enjoyed by kids forever, Now, you can make these tasty crackers yourself for a fraction of the price and with ingredients you trust.

7. Parmesan Garlic Zucchini Chips

From Frugal Living Mom

Whether or not your child loves their veggies, they are sure to love these homemade Parmesan Garlic Zucchini Chips! If you want to keep them vegan and dairy free it is also super easy to replace the Parmesan cheese with a few tablespoons of nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor. They come out of the oven nice and crispy with the perfect amount of flavor.

8. Homemade Granola Bars

From What’s Gaby Cooking

So much better than a candy bar or store-bought granola bar, these homemade granola bars are just as sweet and a whole lot healthier. They are easy to make too! These granola bars are stuffed with dried cranberries, golden raisins, and plenty of chocolate chips. You can also feel free to mix and match all kinds of dried fruit to experiment with different flavor combinations. They also make the perfect snacks for school lunches!

Keep lunch box snacks secure with these great sources gathered by the crew at Spaceships and Laser Beams.

(Amazon Affiliate Links)

• Kid’s Spill-Proof Soup/Meal Container
• Hot & Cold Resealable Sandwich Bag
• Stainless Steel Food Jar
• Insulated Food Container
• Bento Stainless Steel Lunch Jar
• Stainless Steel Food Container
• Hot Pack
• Thermal Soup Bowl
• Kid’s Spill-Proof Soup Bowl

Looking for more awesome snack ideas? Check out these snack ideas perfect for kids.

• The Strawberry Octopus
• Bagel Bite Animals
• Apple Turtles
• Christmas Granola

Check out 28 Fun, Unique and Healthy After School Snacks…