Healthy Back To School Snacks

This website earns income from affiliate links, ads, and sponsored content.

It’s that time of year again! As the school year starts rapidly approaching, I start getting prepared (mentally and physically!) to ensure that we’re ready for the transition from summer to school. To keep things low stress and simple for school lunches, I always keep healthy back to school snacks on hand and make big batches of simple recipes that I can easily add to Fletcher’s lunches to make sure he’s full! If you’re looking for quick and simple ideas for your little one’s lunches, I’ve rounded up my list of favorite snack ideas from pre-packaged to easy favorite recipes to ensure that making your kid’s lunches in the morning is easy and stress-free.

1. Clif Kid Zbar

You’ll want to keep one of these on hand at all times, not just for school lunches! The Clif Kid Zbars are USDA Organic, a good source of fiber, and contain no high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, and no genetically modified ingredients. Flavors in this variety pack include chocolate chip, chocolate mint, chocolate brownie, chocolate chip protein, iced oatmeal cookie, cookies n’ creme, and strawberry fruit snack. Order yours here!

2. Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars

This is one of our favorite healthy back to school snacks! We love Nature’s Bakery Whole Wheat Fig Bars because they are an excellent choice for on-the-go families in search of convenience and nutrition. These figs bars are a perfect snack for your little ones (or adults!) and ones you can feel good about serving. Enjoy one for a quick, healthy breakfast bar or an afternoon snack! These bars are soft-baked with no cholesterol, GMOs, or high fructose corn syrup. No artificial flavors, certified vegan, plant-based, low sodium, and they’re dairy-free. Get yours here!

3. That’s it. Mini Fruit Bars

These Mini Fruit Bars contain only two ingredients: two kinds of fruit. Seriously, that’s it! A combination of apple and another kind of fruit, these portable snack bars have no added sugar. These fruit bars make it easy to enjoy two fruits without the hassle of washing, peeling, cutting, or storing (no refrigeration needed!) They are a plant-based, clean snack with no preservatives, high in fiber, and just 60 calories each! They’re gluten-free and vegan, perfect for children and adults, too! Get yours here.

4. RXBAR, RX Kids

RX Kids protein snack bars are made with four common ingredients: whole grain oats, dates, egg whites, and coconut oil. These bars make the perfect on-the-go snack for nutritious and convenient snacking, even for the pickiest eaters. By pairing real ingredients with flavors that kids love, you can feel confident that your little ones will be gobbling down all the nutrients in this snack! RX Kids bars contain simple real food ingredients, no gluten, no added sugar, and no bad stuff. Get yours here!

5. Go Go Squeez

Always a kid favorite, GoGo squeeZ unsweetened applesauce comes in reclosable BPA-free pouches (perfect for throwing back in the lunch box if your kiddos don’t finish!). They’re gluten-free, vegan-friendly, nut-free, dairy-free, with no added colors, flavors, or high fructose corn syrup. Choose from flavors: Apple Apple, Apple Banana Strawberry, Apple Cinnamon, Apple Peach, or Apple Berry. Pop the applesauce pouch in the freezer overnight and use it as an ice pack in their lunch bag. By lunchtime, it will be a yummy slushy! This is one of our favorite healthy back to school snacks. Order yours here.

6. Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

We love muffins at our house! This recipe for nut-free and gluten-free Zucchini Chocolate Muffins works great as a snack, or even as a dessert treat! Prep these muffins the night before and you and your kiddos will be able to enjoy a healthy breakfast each morning. They also freeze great so make a double batch and save some for later. Bake them using our favorite muffin tins! Get the recipe here!

7. Bare Banana Chips

Bare Banana Chips are the perfect on-the-go snack if you’re craving something crunchy and sweet. They are made with one simple ingredient – bananas! These banana chips are baked, never fried, non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, and a good source of dietary fiber. The resealable package makes them the perfect healthy back to school snack! Get yours here.

8. Homemade Granola

A Fletcher Favorite! He created this granola recipe himself, and I have to say, it’s pretty tasty! Granola can be used in so many ways: it is a great snack food on its own or delicious crumbled over granola or served with milk! We love how portable it is and how you can make the recipe with whatever you have on hand. Transport the granola easily in our favorite reusable snack bags! Get the granola recipe here!

9. BEAR Real Fruit Snacks

Remember the fruit roll-ups we ate as kids? Delicious, but full of artificial sugar and preservatives! Our go-to is BEAR Real Fruit Snack Rolls: gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO! These are the perfect mess-free snack to serve while traveling. You can feel good about your kids snacking on these with their only ingredients being apples & pears, strawberries, and black carrot extract! Now your kids can enjoy the joy of a fruit roll-up, but one that is way better for them. Order yours here!

10. Crispy Green Freeze-Dried Fruit

If you don’t like bananas, here is another freeze-dried fruit option! Each Crispy Green Freeze-Dried Fruit variety pack includes 8 freeze-dried apples, 4 freeze-dried mangoes, and 4 freeze-dried pineapples – all made with 100% fruit. Dried fruit is the perfect on-the-go snack so your little ones can still get vital vitamins and nutrients without the mess or hassle. Crispy Green freeze-dried fruit is vegan, paleo, gluten-free, and dairy-free. Unlike some freeze-dried fruits, these are Non-GMO, containing no additives, preservatives, or added sugars. Get yours here!

11. Carrot Cake Bites

This Carrot Cake Bites recipe is perfect for making quick, healthy snacks on the go or when you need a healthy dessert to indulge in without feeling guilty about it! If you are a carrot cake fan, these carrot cake bites will definitely satisfy those cravings! Prepare them beforehand, throw them in a reusable snack container, and you have a healthier sweet snack to throw in your kiddo’s lunch bag! Get the recipe here.

12. Dang Toasted Coconut Chips

We love a good salty and sweet combo! Toasted Coconut Chips are made with only three ingredients – coconut, a hint of cane sugar, and sea salt. Ingredients are non-GMO, 100% plant-based, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free. Try dipping into almond butter for protein and flavors that will make you think you’re actually eating dessert. This is a snack you can enjoy straight from the bag and not feel bad about it. Get yours here!

13. Fuel For Fire KIDS

Fuel For Fire KIDS Smoothies are healthy back to school snacks made for picky eaters! The smoothie comes in convenient squeezable pouches, perfect for little hands to hold without it spilling everywhere. This 12-pack of protein smoothie squeeze pouches comes in four flavors: Tropical, Strawberry Banana, Mixed Berry, and Banana Cocoa. Each pouch contains 70-80 calories worth of balanced nutrition including potassium, fiber, vitamin C, and 7 grams of protein. The smoothies are vegetarian, gluten-free, and soy-free. Get yours here!

14. Chia Seed Pudding

This amazing Whole30 Chia Seed pudding is an easy-to-make recipe that’s delicious and perfect for a lunch break. Make the day before, store in our favorite jars, and pack them the next day for quick, healthy back to school snacks or breakfast to enjoy before school! Top with fresh or dried fruit, nut butter, chopped nuts, and seeds. YUM! Get the recipe here.

15. Organic Seaweed Snacks

Chances are, your kids aren’t saying they like seaweed. But they haven’t tried Annie Chun’s seaweed snacks! This nutrient-dense snack is keto, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb, whole30 approved, and has only 25 calories per serving! Annie Chun’s seaweed has no preservatives and is non-GMO making it a snack you can feel good about giving to your kids for back to school! Order yours here.

16. Snapea Crisps

If you are anything like us, your kids are always begging for chips! These Harvest Snaps Snapea Crisps are the perfect alternative to potato chips. The snap pea crisps are baked green pea crisps that are gluten-free, low in sodium and a good source of fiber. You know we are always trying to find ways to sneak in some extra veggies, and these do the job! Get yours here. (Pro-tip: don’t pack Cheetos or Doritos in their lunch bag and offer your LO’s these “chips” instead!)  

17. CHOMPS Beef Jerky Sticks

Chomps Beef Sticks are the ultimate protein snack on the go, and also one of Fletcher’s Favorite snacks! They’re Keto, Paleo, Whole30 approved, non-GMO, Gluten-free, sugar-free, and are high in protein! With only 90 calories per stick, it’s the perfect snack to keep the kids satiated until their next meal. Order your Chomps here!

18. HIPPEAS Organic Chickpea Puffs

This variety pack of individual HIPPEAS Organic Chickpea Puffs is perfect for back to school! This case comes with 6 bags of Vegan White Cheddar, 3 bags of Bohemian Barbecue, and 3 bags of Sriracha Sunshine. These Organic Chickpea Puffs are made from legumes baked into a light and crunchy puff. Serve your kiddos “cheese puffs” you can feel good about! HIPPEAS are USDA Organic, Certified Gluten-Free, Vegan, and Non-GMO. Get yours here! (Fun fact: Did you know Chickpea plants naturally release nitrogen back into the earth as they grow? They’re good for the planet, simply by being themselves.)

19. LesserEvil Himalayan Pink Salt Organic Popcorn

Another alternative to chip! LesserEvil Himalayan Pink Salt Organic Popcorn is made with three simple ingredients – organic popcorn, organic extra-virgin coconut oil, and Himalayan salt. The popcorn is USDA Organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, and vegan. This popcorn contains 60% less fat, 40% more fiber, and 26% fewer calories than traditional oil-popped popcorn. Get yours here!

20. BIENA Chickpea Snack Puffs

Another healthy alternative to chips and cheese puffs, these BIENA Chickpea Snack Puffs are perfect for kids or adults. These puffs are packed with 6 grams of plant-based protein, and 40% fewer carbs than leading cheese puff brands. They are non-GMO, grain-free, gluten-free, rice-free, and corn-free. Your LO’s will love pairing these chickpea snacks with their pita pocket sandwich (recipe below!) Get yours here.

21. Bento Box Lunch

This is what we like to call a homemade lunchable, or a charcuterie board for kids (since that’s the fancy term for it now)! Bento snack boxes can be filled with endless combinations – fresh fruit, cheese, nuts, veggies, proteins, or muffins to name a few ideas. Prep them beforehand and you have a healthy, convenient lunch that’s perfect for your kiddos lunch! Get our favorite bento boxes here!

22. Pita Pocket Sandwich

My husband once told me that everything tastes better in a tortilla and it’s true! Over the years, I’ve extended this concept to include pita pockets as well – they are easy, fun, versatile, and perfect for a healthy back to school meal. This is a great way to sneak some veggies in as well. Get the recipe here! 

Hey moms – it seems like we have your healthy back to school snacks list covered! Tag us on Instagram if you make one of our easy on-the-go recipes and let us know how they turned out.