4 Best Vegan and Gluten-Free Snacks for Kids

by: Angie Asche MS, RD, CSSD

Whether your kids are back in the classroom full-time, part-time, or all online, having wholesome snacks available at home will help to keep them energized throughout the day. I’ve put together four simple and nutritious snack ideas that are all vegan and gluten-free. If you are short on time and need to throw something together in a matter of minutes, or if you’re looking for fun ways to get your kids involved in the kitchen with you, there is an option here for you.

Each snack idea below features one of our latest Kids MacroBars flavors and either a fresh fruit or vegetable. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) only 1 in 10 children are consuming enough vegetables per day, and only 4 in 10 children are eating enough fruit per day. While recommendations vary depending on the child’s age, the range is between 1-2 cups of fruit and 1-3 cups of vegetables per day.

Here are a few examples of what 1 cup of vegetables or fruit looks like:

• 1 small apple
• 8 large strawberries
• 1 cup diced watermelon
• 12 baby carrots
• 1 cup chopped broccoli
• 2 large stalks celery
• 1 bell pepper

We can’t wait for you to recreate these nutritious snack ideas in your own kitchen!

Fruit Kabobs

What You’ll Need: A few kabob sticks, any of your family’s favorite in-season fresh fruits, and 1 Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Kids MacroBar

How to Make: Wash and chop fresh fruit (I used pears, grapes, and apples). Cut your Kids Macrobar into 3 equal pieces, and roll gently into balls. Slide each fruit piece and MacroBar ball onto the kabob stick and serve.

Tip: Want to add more veggies to this snack? Cherry tomatoes, chopped cucumbers, and chopped bell peppers would all be great options!

Chocolate & Peppermint Vegan Ice Cream

What You’ll Need: 3 frozen ripe bananas, 3 Tbsp coconut milk, 2-4 drops peppermint extract (to taste), 6 drops natural vegan red food coloring (optional), 2 Double Chocolate Brownie Kids Macrobars

How to Make: Add frozen bananas, coconut milk, peppermint extract, and optional food coloring to a food processor and process until smooth. For a more chocolatey flavor, add ¼ cup vegan dark chocolate chips! Transfer the ice cream to a glass container. Chop the double chocolate brownie bars into small chunks and stir into the ice cream. Freeze for at least 30 minutes to allow the ice cream to harden before scooping into bowls.

Apple Nachos

What You’ll Need: 1-2 Apples, 1-2 Tablespoons creamy peanut or almond butter, 1 Peanut Butter Cup Kids Macrobar

How to Make: Wash and slice apples. Lay slices on a plate, then drizzle creamy peanut or almond butter on top. Use your hands to crumble up the MacroBar into a small bowl, and sprinkle over the top of the nachos.

Pomegranate Bark

What You’ll Need: 1 cup dairy-free dark chocolate chips, ½ cup pomegranate seeds, 1 Kids MacroBar

How to Make: Melt dark chocolate chips. Stir in half of the pomegranate seeds and crumbled MacroBar pieces. Lay flat on parchment paper and top with the rest of the pomegranate seeds and MacroBar. Place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or until chocolate has hardened. Remove and break up into chunks. Store any leftovers in the fridge or freezer.

About the Author: Angie Asche, MS, RD, CSSD is a nationally-recognized food and nutrition expert, board certified specialist in sports dietetics, and owner of Eleat Sports Nutrition. You can follow her on Instagram: @eleatnutrition.