Providing kids with healthy snacks they enjoy is a challenge that all busy parents face. There is no denying that today’s busy world can make snack time tricky!
Here at Moonshot, we have a few ideas on how to find ways to feed our kids healthy, delicious, and even climate-friendly snacks!
What Kind of Nutrients Should I Be Looking For?
When you’re always on the go, researching what nutrients you should be looking for can feel daunting and, for many parents, overwhelming.
Some of the most important nutrients our bodies need are missing in most snacks (per U.S. Dietary Guidelines). Here are the kinds of nutrients we should all be looking for when it comes to snacks for our kids (and ourselves!):
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Calcium
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Potassium
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Fiber
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Magnesium
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Vitamin A
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Vitamin C
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Vitamin E
If you’d rather skip reading the tiny print on labels that breaks down these nutrients, a good general rule is to stick to simple foods with recognizable ingredients, and to try to incorporate all three macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, and fat) at snack time. This will help keep your kids healthy and satiated to avoid the dreaded sugar crash!
There are many ways that we can all snack smarter. Whether you are a conscientious snacker, snacking champion, or climate-conscious consumer, we all have one thing in common – a love of snacks. By focusing on supportive nutrients and combo snacks that include all three macronutrients, we’re much better off than eating an ultra-processed bag of chips that is half-filled with air anyway. 👀
All in all, you should be looking for foods that make your body and mind feel good, and Moonshot can do just that.
Aside from nutrients, look for planet-healthy snack options!
Another thing to strive for is taking small steps towards planet-friendliness.
At Moonshot, we are doing what we can to take a bite out of climate change, and we’re always on the lookout for planet-healthy snack options. For us, this means being as climate-friendly as possible.
We hope everyone feels inspired to join our journey to reduce our personal environmental impact. There are many ways that we can be more conscious of our purchases and build our way towards a greener lifestyle. Starting with little steps in our everyday lives, we can help change the system, while inspiring future generations to make the same choice.
For example, even though they’re convenient, “snack packs” pile up in landfills like nobody’s business. Grab-and-go snacks rarely use planet-friendly compostable packaging. A more supportive and planet-healthy alternative is to invest in reusable containers and look for companies that make an effort to use reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging.
At Moonshot, we are doing what we can to offer climate-friendly packaging. Our boxes are 100% recycled paper, and we even use plant-based inks to make the box totally compostable!
By the digits…
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40% of single use plastic food packaging ends up in landfill, corresponding to 9 million tons of plastic packaging waste that is fated to accumulate in soils
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Food and food packaging materials make up almost HALF of all municipal solid waste.
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There are seven types of plastics polymers that account for 70 % of all plastics production, all of which are derived from fossil fuels and are used in food packaging! 😲
Healthy Snacks For Kids
There are lots of healthy snacking options that even our kids will love and get excited about!
Peanut Butter Cracker Sandwiches
Peanut butter cracker sandwiches are a great, easy snack that will fuel your child and allow them to take on their day. Peanut butter is a source of both protein and healthy fats, which will help give your child sustained energy when paired with crackers. The next time you are at the grocery store, look for peanut butter with no added sugar. You can make this snack with our sourdough sea salt crackers and add some banana slices if you’ve got one on hand.
Celery with Peanut Butter and Raisins
Celery with peanut butter and raisins is a delicious snack that balances carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Again, look for peanut butter that does not have added sugar or change it up with an alternative like sunflower seed or cashew butter. This classic snack even comes with a fun name -- ants on a log!
Cheese and Crackers
Cheese and crackers are another great combo snack that hits all three macronutrient categories. The cheese delivers high-quality protein and calcium to your child, which helps support bone strength and healthy growth. If you’re totally plant-based (kudos to you!), go for a vegan cheese option instead. Either way, take your cheese and crackers to the next level by pairing them with our rosemary garlic crackers or our tomato basil crackers.
Trail Mix
Trail mix is a great snack to make in bulk with a variety of different ingredients like nuts, crackers, and dried fruits. For a healthier option, try to make your own trail mix to avoid added sugars, preservatives, and other additives you’ll find in a lot of brands at the grocery store. Plus, it’s more climate-friendly (and customizable!) when you buy ingredients in bulk and make snacks yourself.
Yogurt
Like cheese, yogurt is a great source of calcium and protein. On top of that, yogurt is a probiotic food that helps support the digestive system. Top with fresh fruit, nuts, and a drizzle of honey to pack in even more nutrients.
We recommend buying plain, whole milk yogurt in large containers, as it is typically lower in sugar than the flavored yogurt that’s marketed to kids. You can then add in jam or fruit at home to your sweetness level. Plus, when you buy in bulk, you can portion out the yogurt into reusable containers instead of buying single-use plastics. There are also lots of great plant-based options on shelves these days!
Snacks Kids Should Avoid
While there are plenty of healthy snacks geared towards kids, there are a few snacks that we don’t recommend as part of your regular snack routine. We’re keeping an eye out for excessive added sugar -- here are some of the common culprits:
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Fruit snacks (the gummy kind) tend to contain both added sugars and artificial dyes, and very little actual fruit.
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Store-bought granola bars, though they may appear to be healthy, are often packed with added sugars and other hard-to-pronounce ingredients.
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Applesauce or fruit cups, unless otherwise noted, can hold up to our full recommended daily value of sugar inside one tiny, single-use cup!
The Bottom Line: Be Watchful For Added Sugars and Go With Simple, Fresh, and Easy To Eat.
We want what’s best for all of us. This means helping each other snack mindfully.
Like you, we don't want to stress over meal prep or pick a last-minute junk snack for our kiddos when everyone is on the go. That’s why we always pick simple, fresh, and easy snacks that leave us feeling ready to conquer the world.
With no added sugar, no artificial ingredients, and 100% plant-based goodness, Moonshot Snacks will leave you feeling happy and satisfied, and help move snacking toward a more earth-friendly system one box at a time. What you eat should make both your mind and body happy. It’s a win-win-WIN situation when your snacks make you, your kids, and the planet feel good.
If you don’t believe us, try Moonshot for yourself. Or, have your friends try it – the proof is in the pudding -- or should we say… the proof is in the crackers? 😉
Sources
Missing Nutrients in the Traditional American Diet | WebMD
Food: Material-Specific Data | EPA
Composting Is Good for Your Garden and the Environment | University of California
Foodprint Issues The Environmental Impact of Food Packaging | Foodprint
