Roasted chickpeas are healthy, high-fiber snack food.
Roasted chickpeas are healthy, high-fiber snack food. (Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star)

Back-to-school means so many things to so many people. Kids feel a combination of excitement and nervousness. Parents look forward to regular schedules and knowing their kids will be learning after a summer of fun. But for some parents, it can also mean the dreaded snack duty, that unlikable task of providing a healthful snack for an entire class of children.

The stress that this task causes some parents has been parodied in movies and television shows, and has been a topic among working and stay-at-home parents. Many find themselves confused when kids in the class have allergies and the school says that snacks have to be healthful. What exactly does that mean? What constitutes a healthful snack?

Besides boycotting, which isn't really an option because children, especially small ones, need a snack or two during the day to carry them from mealtime to mealtime, what else can a parent do?

Start by ensuring that a snack has protein and healthful fat; otherwise, it won't do its job of providing lasting energy. Protein is a main source of energy for our bodies and helps to build our brains, making it an important ingredient in a child's school day. Healthful fats are also a concentrated source of energy for the body, are building blocks for the brain, and slow absorption of other parts of our meal, helping us remain full longer.

Then think about adding a fruit or vegetable to every snack. It can be challenging to get enough fruit and vegetables into our children's bodies through their three main meals, yet kids need the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that these foods supply.

Here are some ideas for whole-food snacks that can be made in bulk and sent into school. They are grouped by protein source. Ideas of how to incorporate fruit and vegetables follow at the end. Visit for recipes.


Hard-boiled eggs

Bite-size egg salad sandwiches

Frittata slices

Homemade muffins and breads


Cheese and whole-grain crackers

Cheese and fruit kebabs

Dates or other dried fruit with cheese

Pasta salad with tomatoes and mozzarella

Beans and Legumes

Dips such as hummus or black bean with whole-grain crackers and raw vegetables

Crispy chickpeas

Mini lentil or black bean cakes

Nuts and Seeds

Homemade trail mix

Homemade granola or granola bars

Make-your-own yogurt parfaits with nuts and dried fruit toppings

Vegetable sushi or brown rice balls rolled in sesame seeds

Nut Butter

Mini sandwiches such as peanut butter and jelly or apple miso almond butter

Celery and carrots with nut butter dip

Oat, dried fruit and nut butter balls

Almond or peanut butter cookies


Steamed edamame in the shell, lightly salted

Guacamole with whole-grain chips

Mini meatloaf muffins

Nutritional y east and sea salt sprinkled on popcorn

Then add a fruit or vegetable to make a balanced snack:

Fruit or veggie salsa (try mango or peach)

Sliced vegetables to dip in guacamole or hummus

Dried fruit in granola, granola bars, muffins and breads

Fresh fruit or fruit salad on the side

Sliced vegetable of choice on the side

Dried seaweed
