‍It’s the back-to-school season! When you hit the grocery store to stock up on lunch-bag essentials we want you to go into it with ease! While this busy time can seem stressful and overwhelming, it also means there are a lot of opportunities to help your child make conscious snack choices, get lots of brain-healthy nutrients, and pack them the lunch that all the other kids will wish they had. In this blog, we'll go over our top 5 recommendations for lunch-bag essentials based on 4 of the top categories on the food pyramid: legumes, whole grains, fruits and veggies, and dried fruits and nuts along with where to buy them and why we'd choose that option!

Legumes

Legumes, such as chickpeas are a top choice among health-conscious eaters. They're an amazing source of fiber and magnesium, and they help you feel fuller for longer. Kids may not be super inclined to open a container of chickpeas at school, which is why we recommend our Game Changer Foods Chickpea Bites. They're sweet, soft, and full of nutrients. They are made locally in Vancouver with vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO ingredients. One of our awesome customers says her son won't eat any other snack! They’re also a good source of protein, iron, zinc, and B vitamins. You can buy them from our website gamechangerfoods.com and get free local 1-day delivery to the lower mainland, or you can purchase them at our list of retailers here

Whole Grains

Whole grains are a great source of fiber, B vitamins, and minerals. They’re also often more nutritious than their refined and processed counterparts. Quinoa is a great option for a staple grain with a host of benefits. Quinoa is a complete protein and can be used in all types of recipes, from breakfast to dinner. We love the Quinoa Krunch dark chocolate bites. They’re the perfect sweet treat for a kid's lunch that peanut free, sodium free, gluten-free, and high in iron and fiber. They’re also a fellow Canadian Brand! Find them here.

Fruits and Veggies

Fruits and vegetables are always good choices, but they’re especially great for kids. It can be tough to encourage your kids to eat their fruits and veggies when they’ve also got tons of other yummy snacks in their lunch-box, but we love the Chiwis dried Kiwi snacks! They’re 100% fruit and nothing else! Not only are they packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, but they also help to regulate blood sugar.

Dried Fruit and Nuts

Nuts and nut butter are one of the most nutritious snacks on the planet. We always try to choose nuts and nut butter that are sugar-free or low-sugar. We love the Noosh Nut butter because they’re vegan, palm oil-free, soy-free, and low sugar! They also come in perfect travel-sized pods. This makes them easy to throw in your work bag or your kid's lunch bag. They come in a ton of cool natural flavors like chocolate, birthday cake, mint, coconut, and more. Nuts are a great source of protein, healthy fats, and minerals. 

Now that you know more about these healthy vegan snacks that you can throw in your kid's lunch bags, what are you waiting for? Go pack your bag with wholesome, plant-based snacks, and they’ll have plenty of energy to grow their amazing brains and conquer recess!