Add these simple and delicious gluten-free snack ideas to your child’s lunch. They will love these tasty foods!
With rising concerns about children’s dietary needs, parents are becoming more conscious of what their kids eat throughout the day. Pack healthy and clean snacks for your gluten-free kids and provide them with vital nutrients—without chemicals or additives. Here is a comprehensive list of healthy snack ideas for you to choose from.
#1 Gluten-free trail mix
This is one of the most classic gluten-free snacks. It’s loaded with salty nuts, fruit bits, seeds, granola, and dried fruit. Many brands sell gourmet trail mixes. Try to check with food delivery services which suggest organic delivery options right to your doorstep.
You can also create your own by mixing fruits and nuts. It’s a good source of fiber and vitamins such as A, B6, C, niacin, and folate. You can store this in an airtight container for six months in a cool, dry place.
#2 Seed and fruit mix
This is a good snack for older kids. It’s healthy and nutritious but high in calories. For a homemade version of this, purchase seeds, nuts, and dried fruit in bulk and mix them.
#3 Gluten-free pizza
Many stores sell gluten-free bread designed to look and taste like regular bread. Make your own by using gluten-free flour and making dough. You can also make pizza rolls out of the dough as snacks. You can make your pizza sauce with chestnut puree, tomato paste, vegetable stock, extra-virgin olive oil, garlic, and fresh herbs.
Add veggies such as chopped mushrooms, bell peppers, broccolini, and olives to make it even healthier. Store in an airtight container for up to three days.
#4 Granola bars
These are similar to “real” granola bars from the store but made with gluten-free ingredients like rice syrup or honey, raisins or cranberries as sweeteners instead of sugar, etc. Most gluten-free granola bars are free of dairy and nuts, making them good snacks for kids with allergies.
Make them at home or buy them from a store. Store at room temperature for up to two weeks.
#5 Raw veggies and hummus dip
Serve some raw carrots, celery sticks, cherry tomatoes, and a bowl of homemade hummus dip. This snack is easy to prepare, especially if you get a prepared hummus dip from the grocery store. You can also leave out the chips and offer just the dip. Hummus is a good source of protein, low in fat, and rich in calcium and vitamin C. You can add some chopped red pepper flakes, parsley, or spinach to get extra nutrients.
#6 Rice cakes
You can choose flavored rice cakes like wild rice or truffle rice cakes, usually available in stores. These are great gluten-free snacks for children to munch on in between meals. They have just enough flavor to satisfy cravings without being sweet or salty. Store in an airtight container for two weeks.
#7 Gluten-free candy
Gluten-free candy can be eaten by itself or mixed with other ingredients to create new tasty treats. You can make your gluten-free marshmallows or use gelatin to substitute for marshmallows. You can also add cocoa to make chocolate treats.
#8 ?ookies and fruit snacks
Gluten-free cookies are similar to wheat flour cookies but do not contain the allergen. They taste good and are nutritionally rich yet gluten-free, so they are a good alternative for gluten-intolerant people who need a snack that won’t give them gas or cause stomach aches. You can make your cookies from a gluten-free flour mixture using oil, water, baking powder, and baking soda. You can add chocolate chips or nuts to the mix too.
#9 Gluten-free Lara bars
Lara bars are gluten-free and dairy-free. They are made with protein ingredients like nuts, seeds, and soy protein concentrate (whole soybeans). Other components include rice syrup, honey, dried fruits, and coconut—making them sweet but not too sweet.
These are great snacks for children with allergies because they do not contain dairy. Plus, there is no need to worry about preservatives in this snack since it is entirely natural and organic.
#10 Cheddar cheese sticks
These are made from rice and tapioca flour or other gluten-free ingredients and contain cheese, seasonings, and natural colors. These sticks work well for kids of all ages—from grade school to teens. You can use them as finger foods for toddlers or cut them into squares for bigger kids.
#11 Mixed nuts
Gluten-free nuts are a safe snack choice for children. They contain healthy oils, protein, and fiber, and make sure that you do not need to worry about the nuts containing dangerous preservatives or HVP (histamine-releasing peptides).
#12 Crackers
Making your gluten-free crackers is an easy task. Choose gluten-free whole grains such as rye or wheat, add salt and spices and bake them in an oven. Don’t worry about the brown color—it’s just part of the process.
How to ensure that your children eat healthy snacks?
First of all, make sure that you and your kids understand the basics of nutrition.
Children are open to new things, and they like being treated as adults. Let them help you pick out foods at the grocery store or help you with cooking. By starting small, you can be sure that they will follow the new routine.
One of the most common reasons people do not have enough energy and glow is eating junk food daily. This can affect your health in many ways. There are plenty of harmful foods to be avoided and only good nutrition to be consumed.
Even if there is no way to control what others are eating, you should at least give your children healthy snacks with nutritious ingredients to meet their nutritional needs.
One of the best snacks that you can give your child is fruit. There are many types of fruits that can be consumed. A lot of healthy nutrients are present in it. You still have to take note that some fruits are not suitable for your kids when it comes to choosing fruit for your kids.
If you want them to eat healthily, you should stick with giving them a banana or an orange instead of avocado, which is good but not recommended as regular snacks for kids. Make sure they do not get thirsty and do not go hungry because hunger and thirst can lead kids to choose something wrong like junk food or soda.
Conclusion
When it comes to healthy snacks, there are many options that you can choose from. Just make sure that they are nutritious and good for them. Also, when you give them a healthy snack, do not be shy of letting them try it first because they might not even realize that they preferred the healthy snack over the other junk one because they did not like the taste at first.
It is also essential to have fun with your children while eating healthy snacks with them. If you only focus on what they are consuming, you will never get a chance to bond with them and find out their interests and hobbies.
Gluten-Free Recipes
Here are some of my favorite gluten-free recipes:
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