Have you reached in your pantry lately and read a label on one of the “healthy” bars you are eating or giving to your kids? How many ingredients do you see? How many sweeteners, sugars or syrups do you see? Do you even know what all the ingredients are that are listed? It’s a little scary, right?
Real, unprocessed food is always the healthiest choice for you and your family. I strongly recommend cutting down on all processed foods in your house and choosing unprocessed food first when possible. However, I know we all want (and sometimes need) convenience snacks that can be pulled out of the pantry occasionally or taken on the go.
This is part 2 of healthier processed food snacks for your family. I’ve put a quick list together of some recommendations. However, I do encourage you to limit the bars and dried fruits. We don’t have these every day in our house. Also, the bars can get pricey, which is another reason we don’t consume these daily. We reach for simple, real food as much as possible.
Why are these snacks cleaner and healthier?
The snacks I selected have no sugar added. Frankly, they don’t need added sugar to be good! They also don’t contain needless additives and preservatives that are not good for our bodies or our kids.
Where can I find these snacks?
Many of these are available at Earthfare, Sprouts, Whole Foods, Amazon (affiliate links included below), Vitacost, Thrive Market, Jet.com and more. I rarely shop at Kroger or Publix anymore, so I’m not sure if they carry any of these brands. I know Lara Bars can be found in almost all grocery stores now.
Note: the best prices on Amazon for most of these are typically found by buying in bulk. If you shop Amazon, you know their prices can be higher on some things individually. Make sure you price compare on the sites I referenced and check your local stores to get the best prices. In the grocery stores, I look for sales and buy in bulk. I only buy the bars when they are on sale.
Yes, I know these snacks and products are more expensive than other snacks available. There is a reason. The ingredients are safer, better and higher quality. It is your choice what you choose to eat. These are just my recommendations.
Dairy free, gluten free, nut free, soy free and no added sugar snacks:
1. That’s it bars (very allergy friendly): only contain dried fruit (Think of these as a healthier fruit roll up alternative). Here are just a few varieties below we’ve tried. My daughter has enjoyed them all.
- apple blueberry
- apple pear
- apple peach
- apple cherry
- apple strawberry
- and more!
Here’s a link to Amazon for apple strawberry: http://amzn.to/2k2g9VP
2. Organic Bare Apple and Bare Banana chips
- If you read the labels of many similar snacks, they are made using bad oils, added sugars, syrups and more. Almost every banana chip I see is sweetened too. It is a fruit that is already sweet enough!! It is hard to get away from sugar. We must read labels and limit it for ourselves and kids as much as we can.
- Here’s an Amazon link for a 24 count of the apple varieties http://amzn.to/2BaEMum. Apples are on the dirty dozen list, so they have tested high for pesticide levels. So, I recommend buying organic when you can, but I couldn’t find a good price for organic in a large quantity or in the small snack size bags. They are pricey for the 2 count larger organic bags. So, check stores and occasionally you can find these at TJ Maxx and Home Goods.
- Here’s a link http://amzn.to/2jllKac to banana chip variety snack packs.
3. Organic Applesauce
- Read your labels. Look for the ingredient of organic apples only or organic apple puree only.
- This is in plastic, not my favorite packaging. However, for on the go or lunch bags, this is a great size.
- I prefer glass jars, but they are only in large sizes to keep at home.
- The 365 Whole Foods brand is offered via Amazon Fresh. Here’s the link http://amzn.to/2kvYh9O
- Here’s another option I found on Amazon Fresh. BuddyFruits fruit tubes. Again, I prefer organic, but this is a clean option with 100% fruit and only apple puree. http://amzn.to/2jkl3O7
4. Organic Raisins
- These are great to add to a lunch box or grab for a snack on the go in the individual size portioned boxes. Most all grocery stores carry them.
- You can also pair these with sprouted pumpkin seeds. See photo below. It’s a yummy combo!
4. Once Again Sunflower Seed butter
- This brand has a variety that is unsweetened, organic, and contains sunflower oil and sunflower seeds. It is also nut free and allergy friendly.
- This one is my personal favorites, and I love that it is packed in glass. I avoid plastic as much as possible as it can leach into foods.
- Here’s a link to Amazon for it http://amzn.to/2kqjh1n
- I’ve found better prices in some stores when I catch this on sale and on Vitacost.com for this brand.
5. Sunbutter
- Here’s another clean one without sugar (they do make one with sugar) that is made in a peanut free facility and is nut free. It only contains sunflower seeds. This is a great one for nut allergies. I wish it came in a glass jar.
- This great with sliced organic apples, organic celery and raisins, bananas and more.
- Here’s a link for Amazon http://amzn.to/2AWkILI
- I’ve seen this brand in many stores, but I don’t always see the no sugar added version.
Other dairy free, gluten free, soy free and no added sugar snacks that contain nuts:
Trail mixes are typically disguised as healthy, and I can’t find many that are without added sugar or chocolate which has added sugar. Living Intentions makes a good one. Check these two out below. My husband takes these to work for snacks. This brand has some with sweeteners added. These below do not have sweeteners added. They have dried fruit which makes them plenty sweet.
- TRAIL MIXES
- Activated Sprouted Trail Mix Spicy Mango
- Here’s the link on Amazon for prime pantry http://amzn.to/2B6V2g6
- Activated Sprouted Trail Mix Wild Berry
- This is my husband’s favorite that he keeps in his desk drawer. We typically buy this at Sprouts or Vitacost. I haven’t seen the wild berry on Amazon.
- Sprouted seeds and nuts are also easier on your digestion.
- Activated Sprouted Trail Mix Spicy Mango
2. LARA BARS
-Note: Some varieties contain sugar and fruit juice; I recommend skipping those. Here are a few we frequently buy. There are many good varieties though.
- Apple Pie:
- Ingredients-dates, almonds, unsweetened apples, walnuts, raisins, cinnamon
- Here’s a link to Amazon. This is a good price with a coupon. http://amzn.to/2ktxSJp
- This is one of my daughter’s favorites.
- Coconut Cream Pie:
- Ingredients-dates, unsweetened coconut, almonds, cashews, extra virgin coconut oil
- Here’s a link to Amazon http://amzn.to/2jmgaEl. This is also a good price with a coupon. My husband and daughter love this one. It may be my husband’s favorite.
- Cashew Cookie:
- Ingredients-cashews and dates
- Here’s the Amazon link for these http://amzn.to/2ksCwYn. My husband also really enjoys these.
- Organic with Superfoods:
- Ingredients-dates, hazelnuts, cacao nibs, hemp seeds, almonds, cocoa powder
My daughter hardly eats any processed food. Lara Bars are one of the few things we feel good about giving her along with the occasional That’s It bar. These are great to carry to birthday parties or gatherings for kids with allergies (if nuts are tolerated of course. If not bring That’s It bars along).
3. Clean nut butters:
The best nut butters have no added sugar and preferably have no added oils. Read your labels. These two below have one ingredient. Really the added ingredients aren’t necessary. If you have a peanut allergy, please only buy the ones from a peanut free facility and do not buy the ones that say may contain peanuts.
- Peanuts are really a legume, not a nut. However, I included a clean one here. I know peanut butter is a staple for many people.
These butters along with the sunflower seed butters are great with fruit. In our house we frequently have sliced organic apples with almond butter or sunflower seed butter. You can also use these on bananas, celery, and more. Be creative. We’ve even made apple pizza. See pictures below using organic raisins and sprouted pumpkin seeds.
Hope this list gives you and your kids some new, healthier snack ideas.