Kids eat more than 3 meals a day to keep their bodies fueled for growing and all that activity, so snacking's a must for kids! When you're dairy-free, the standard ice cream, milk chocolate, yogurt, cheese sticks and pizza items are all off-limits so what's a dairy-free mom to do?
Here are some smart snacking tips for moms to keep kids well-fueled and help them feel like they're not missing out on all the fun.
Fruits, veggies, hummus, pretzels and most unflavored chips are easy, guilt-free snacks for anyone. And depending on whether or not you approve of them, juice boxes, lemonades, iced tea drinks, sports drinks, sodas and seltzers are all safe to reach for at parties or fast food restaurants.
When it comes to baked goods, homemade is always the best option. When you find a recipe you like, bake a batch, stick them in the freezer and pop a frozen muffin, bread, snack cake or cookie in your child's lunchbox to double as an ice pack and defrost by the time they get to snack time. Check out our recipe website roundup for great links to the dairy-free cream of the crop.
If you're buying prepared snacks, it bears mentioning again that Vegan and Kosher Meat (non-dairy) or Parve certification will ensure that they're free of allergens and since the certifications are stamped clearly on the front of the packaging, they're the easiest thing to spot at a glance. Of course, there are many specifically allergen-free brands out there to choose from like Divvies, Late July, Nana's Cookies, Annie's and Amy's who can not only be trusted to make dairy-free products, their products are also consistently tasty and truly kid-friendly.
It's also good to note that Trader Joe's, a chain of small grocery stores found in many locations throughout the US, is committed to smart labeling and healthful ingredients. Visit one of their stores and head straight to the Customer Service counter, where you'll likely be handed a list of all of their allergen-free products in the store. It's like having your own personal shopper. Their cookies, dried fruit bars, frozen treats and chocolate candies are all clearly labeled, delicious, kid-friendly and budget-priced. A first-stop for any mom of a dairy-free kid within 25 miles of a store.
Got a great dairy-free snack you want to share? Comment below!
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